2025 Trends Updates for the Dairy Community

Find highlights from the Trends publication with pertinent updates and implications for the dairy community.

Jump Ahead

• Trend 1: The U.S. Health Gap Grows
• Trend 2: Culture and Equity Are Prioritized in Health Interventions
• Trend 3: Women’s Healthy Aging Is in the Spotlight
• Trend 4: Evolving Food and Nutrition Policy Landscape
  

2025 Trends Updates for the Dairy Community

Dairy Council of California’s 2025 Trends publication highlights food and nutrition trends and explores their implications for education and health professionals. The 2025 edition addresses topics such as the widening health gap, a growing focus on women’s health and the rapidly evolving food and nutrition policy landscape. These topics are also relevant to the dairy community, as dairy foods continue to play a key role in delivering essential nutrients to support health across the life span.  

Below, you will find highlights from the Trends publication with pertinent updates and implications for the dairy community. Staying informed on food and nutrition trends will help the dairy sector identify new opportunities, better meet consumer needs and effectively adapt to challenges in the environment.  

The U.S. Health Gap Grows 

Chronic diseases, mental health challenges and age-related conditions like Dementia and Alzheimer's disease continue to rise despite advances in nutrition research and policy.¹ While individuals are often the focus of nutrition interventions, broader social and environmental conditions have a significant impact on health and well-being. Creating a healthier society requires policy, systems and environmental approaches to shape and promote health.

Key Points

• Rates of severe obesity increased from 7.7% to 9.7% from 2013 –2014 through August 2021–August 2023, with women more likely than men to be severely obese.² During a similar timeframe, childhood obesity also increased, especially among boys and children aged 2 to 5.³
• Prescriptions for weight loss medications are skyrocketing, despite gaps in insurance coverage and high out-of-pocket costs.⁴
• Social determinants of health, including food insecurity, lack of private health insurance and lower household income, worsen health outcomes.⁵ Registered dietitians cite socioeconomic status as the most significant factor when it comes to supporting nutrition and health.⁶
• In 2023, 8.4% of U.S. households experienced low food security, and 5.1% faced very low food security.⁷
• Trust in American institutions continues to decline. People worry that government leaders, business leaders, journalists and reporters are misleading, and only 36% express trust in the medical system.⁸ There is also growing distrust of farmers/growers and health professional organizations, but trust in registered dietitian nutritionists remains steady.⁹ 

Implications 

• The dairy community can continue to contribute to health equity by improving access to affordable, nutrient-dense dairy foods. For example, supporting federal nutrition programs can ensure the dairy industry continues to play a role in addressing nutrition gaps linked to social determinants of health. Dairy foods are associated with reduced risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and certain types of cancer, and access to these foods can help improve health outcomes for communities with disproportionately high risk of chronic disease.
• The dairy community can continue to amplify dairy food health benefits through evidence-based, culturally relevant communication. Additionally, collaboration with trusted health professionals can strengthen credibility and build consumer confidence in dairy as part of a healthy eating pattern.
• Considering the growing focus on policy, systems and environmental approaches to shaping health, the dairy community can proactively engage in public health and nutrition policy. Actions include continuing to advocate for the inclusion of dairy in dietary guidance and school nutrition standards. 

Culture and Equity Are Prioritized in Health Interventions  

Complex health problems require multipronged solutions to meet the needs of a diverse population. Life stage, access to nutritious food, education and lived experience are all part of the definition of what it means to be healthy. Increasingly, nutrition interventions are incorporating culturally relevant foods and traditions, as well as a health equity lens to meet people’s needs more effectively. 

Key Points 

• Limited access to care and high medical costs impact health outcomes by reducing the likelihood of receiving preventive care and early treatment of illness and disease. Even as the need for nutrition interventions rises, 83 million Americans face barriers to primary care.¹⁰ 
• If enacted, proposed cuts to federal nutrition programs could exacerbate food insecurity and create significant challenges for programs such as Meals on Wheels.¹¹   

Women's Healthy Aging is in the Spotlight

Women’s health is a growing topic of interest to health professionals and consumers. Nutrition during each stage of life impacts health and quality of life across the life span. Promoting healthy behaviors such as nutrition and physical activity throughout a woman’s life is essential for supporting a growing aging population. 

Key Points

• Adolescence and pregnancy are key life stages to optimizing nutrient intake for women. In early childhood, children’s diets are directly linked to maternal nutrition and family meal behaviors.¹⁶
• Women in the workplace report feeling higher rates of stress during the workday as compared to men due to the ongoing pull between their personal and professional lives, which leads to higher burnout and lower engagement.¹⁷
• Women are at increased risk for abdominal obesity, cardiovascular disease, gut dysbiosis, depression and hormonal shifts related to menopause as they age; physical activity and sleep work together with nutrition to promote health during aging.¹⁸
• People have higher protein needs as they age, and inadequate protein intake can negatively impact older adults’ muscle health and physical performance.¹⁹
• More than 12 million seniors and older adults experienced food insecurity in 2023, with significant racial disparities.²⁰

Dairy Foods Support Healthy Aging 

• The top three criteria consumers use to define a healthy food are “fresh,” “good source of protein” and “low in sugar,” and 71% also report that they are trying to consume protein primarily from food.²¹
  
• The market for high-protein dairy foods is expanding, with an average annual growth rate of 20.8% in new product launches from 2016 to 2021. Products include ready-to-mix powders, ready-to-drink beverages and meal replacement beverages.²²
• The nutrients in dairy foods can help women maintain bone strength and prevent muscle loss.²³ Regular dairy intake may contribute to improved bone turnover and structure, and may help lower the risk of fractures, especially in postmenopausal women.^24,25  
• Many dairy foods such as fermented yogurt and cheese have functional health benefits. A study found people with a “younger” gut microbiome had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of their biological age.²⁶  

Implications 

• Dairy foods have a unique package of nutrients that support health during key stages, including adolescence, pregnancy and older adulthood. Dairy foods can help meet nutrient shortfalls, support fetal growth and maternal health, and maintain bone and muscle health as women age.  
• Women of all ages are looking for innovative products and recommendations to optimize their physical and mental health. High-protein beverages and gut-enhancing products like yogurt can positively impact physical and mental health, while also being a convenient solution for women who are balancing multiple priorities.  
  
• Dairy foods are affordable and accessible, making them an important source of high-quality protein for older adults. It is critical to continue to highlight the role of dairy foods in meal programs for seniors.  

Evolving Food and Nutrition Policy Landscape

Food and nutrition policy changes at the global, national, state and local levels are occurring against the backdrop of soaring food prices and public concern about topics such as food additives and sustainability. From global and national recommendations on food labeling, dietary intake and food formulation to state action on ultra-processed foods and food additives, regulatory changes are happening fast, with uncertainty around long-term implications.  

Key U.S. Policy Updates and Changes

• The Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was submitted to the secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the end of 2024. The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is scheduled to be released in 2025.  
• The Dietary Guidelines Reform Act of 2025 was introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate in March 2025. The reform act would amend the current Dietary Guidelines process, potentially changing the timing, scope, stakeholders and review process if enacted.  
• The Trump administration’s One Big Beautiful Bill, technically a tax bill recently passed by the House of Representatives, made significant cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income Americans, its educational initiatives and Medicaid that could have lasting impacts on nutrition security and health.  
• The Make American Healthy Again Commission released its initial assessment on May 22, 2025, with an emphasis on making American children healthy again. The commission will release policy strategies later this year.  
• On April 1, 2025, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. The proposed legislation could allow higher-fat milk options in schools. The Senate may utilize the committee and possibly move this piece of legislation forward outside of waiting for the full farm bill. 
• The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its “healthy” nutrient content claim in December 2024 to reflect the most current evidence and dietary guidelines. The FDA will also develop a “healthy” symbol to make it easier for consumers to identify foods that meet the published definition.²⁷ While the FDA has given manufacturers until Feb. 28, 2028, to comply with the new rule, manufacturers can start using the new claim as of April 28, 2025.  
• The FDA released its proposed rule on a front-of-package nutrition labeling scheme, intended to provide consumers with quick and clear nutrition information. The proposed labeling scheme would focus on amounts of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, using “Low,” “Medium” or “High” indicators based on the percent Daily Value of each of these nutrients. The FDA is collecting public comments on the proposed rule until July 15, 2025.

California Food and Nutrition Policy

• Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel introduced AB 1264, which would phase out “particularly harmful” ultra-processed foods from California school meals by 2032. Particularly harmful foods would be those containing banned or restricted substances or those linked to adverse health outcomes.
• On Jan. 3, 2025, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to continue investigating the adverse health effects of synthetic food dyes and increase access to affordable, healthy foods. As part of the executive order, he directed state agencies to recommend potential actions to limit the harms associated with ultra-processed foods and food ingredients that pose a health risk to individuals. 
• AB 2316 was signed into law in September 2024 (effective Dec. 31, 2027), making California the first state to ban the following food additives in school meals: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6.²⁸

Implications

• A rapidly changing regulatory landscape creates both challenges and opportunities for the dairy community. Potential challenges include product reformulation and implementation of labeling rules, while opportunities include a growing focus on the health benefits of dairy at various fat levels in school meals. Ongoing awareness of these changes is critical in the current environment.
• With policymakers at the front lines of directing nutrition policy and regulatory actions, it is important to equip thought leaders with information to ensure dairy's important contributions to healthy eating patterns are reflected in policies. The dairy industry is encouraged to share unique and important perspectives within these processes.
• Regulatory updates like the Dietary Guidelines and the FDA’s “healthy” definition could impact people’s health, food access and nutrition knowledge. The dairy community can continue to support nutrition education and programs that accurately educate patients and consumers on changes to food labeling, dietary guidance and other regulatory updates.