American Italian Food Coalition Welcomes New Emphasis on Balance, Flexibility in Updated Dietary Guidelines

Positive nutrition models, including the Mediterranean Diet model, offer better health outcomes than restrictive regimes. 

Co-chairs of the American Italian Food Coalition, former Member of Congress Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti, welcomed the release of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, praising the Trump Administration’s renewed emphasis on balance and flexibility. 

“The updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognize what Italian and Mediterranean food traditions have demonstrated for centuries: no single food determines health,” said Molinari and Calautti in a statement. “Instead, balance, moderation, and variety across all food groups are the keys to long-term wellness.”

“We welcome the new emphasis on balance and flexibility over restriction, which represents an important step toward science-based nutrition policy and clarity for consumers and families. The American Italian Food Coalition looks forward to continuing its work with policymakers, nutrition experts, and leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to promote better health policy through Positive Nutrition models, such as the Mediterranean Diet model.”

In November 2023, the AIFC released a report, “Perspectives on Positive Nutrition.” The report found public health policies traditionally have promoted restrictive and reductionist approaches to diets with limited results. The report concluded that systems-based approaches, such as the Mediterranean Diet model, could help shape a healthier future.