In today’s Beef Buzz, senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays continues his conversation with Dr. Shalene McNeill about the newly released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and their strong emphasis on protein at every meal. You can listen to part one from yesterday by clicking here. McNeill says the new guidelines reflect a noticeable shift in how protein is being discussed, noting, “Protein is a very hot topic, and I think we’re beginning to see a new dimension of that protein trend taking on.” She adds that protein messaging is now everywhere, from grocery shelves to national advertising, creating new opportunities for beef producers.
McNeill explains that one of the most important changes in the new guidelines is a clearer focus on food quality and limiting highly processed foods. “One of the concerns we’ve seen with past dietary guidelines is that they haven’t focused enough on highly processed foods,” she said. With protein front and center, McNeill encourages consumers to look toward whole-food sources, emphasizing, “Turning to those real whole food proteins, like meats, is where you want to be.” She cautions that many processed protein products can come with added calories, reinforcing beef’s role as a naturally nutrient-dense option.
Throughout the discussion, McNeill stresses the importance of balanced messaging rooted in sound science. “The reality is that beef is a fantastic food… but we need to eat beef in moderation as part of a balanced diet,” she said. McNeill adds that a healthy diet includes both animal and plant foods, noting, “We do need a mix of animal and plant foods. We do need to include vegetables, and that would benefit the diet in many ways.” She says the beef industry’s commitment to credible research and working with registered dietitians remains essential.
The conversation also highlights beef’s role across key life stages, which McNeill says is clearly recognized in the new guidelines. “There’s no better iron-rich, natural, real food source than beef,” she said when discussing infant nutrition beginning around six months of age. McNeill also points to increased nutrient needs during childhood growth, pregnancy, and aging, explaining that beef provides critical nutrients when calorie needs decrease but nutrient demands remain high later in life.
When asked whether she expected the final guidelines to be this favorable for the beef industry, McNeill says the outcome was never guaranteed. “You never really know how it’s going to shake out once the scientists make their recommendations,” she explained. However, she believes a greater emphasis on higher-quality science made a difference this time. “When you ask different questions and you use a higher quality body of science, you get different answers,” McNeill said, adding that the inclusion of randomized controlled trials helped present a clearer picture of beef’s role in a healthy diet.
You can listen to our complete interview with Shalene McNeill by clicking here.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR for today’s show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
