Foods: Nutritive Value and Cost (1894) The U.S. Department of Agriculture's first dietary guideline for Americans, Foods: Nutritive Value and Cost (Farmers' Bulletin No. 23), was issued in 1894. (more) Dietary Guidelines for Americans United States government Also known as: DGA Written by Mindy Johnston Mindy Spitzer Johnston is Managing Editor at Encyclopædia Britannica. Mindy Johnston Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Apr. 30, 2026 •History The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is a set of federally developed dietary recommendations that promote healthy living through nutrition guidance. Issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the guidelines are congressionally mandated and published every five years. According to the U.S. Code, the report “shall contain nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public, and shall be promoted by each...

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