Robert F. Kennedy Jr., federal Health and Human Services secretary, is pictured with state Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, during Kennedy’s stop in Harrisburg this week.

Robert F. Kennedy is touring the country touting new federal nutrition guidelines – and one of the first faces he saw in Pennsylvania was that of Rep. Kathy Rapp.

Rapp, R-Warren, was among the state representatives to attend the first in a series of events across the country hosted by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., federal Health and Human Services secretary. Kennedy is touring the country to highlight the Trump administration’s first-year public health accomplishments of the President’s second term, including unveiling a new food pyramid, cutting waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, and securing Most Favored Nation agreements that lower prescription drug costs for Americans.

“It was an honor to stand beside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yesterday to kick off his ‘Eat Real Food Tour,'” Rapp said. “The press conference on Wednesday marked the introduction of updated federal dietary guidelines and a renewed focus on whole, unprocessed foods. The new guidelines prioritize vegetables, meat and dairy while discouraging ultra-processed products, added sugars and artificial additives. This shift represents a significant departure from decades of low-fat recommendations and aims to promote nutrient-rich, minimally processed options for American families. This is about more than just nutrition. It’s about empowering families and farmers alike to build a healthier future for Pennsylvania.”

Legislators featured at the event included State Representatives David H. Rowe (R-85), Senator Judy Ward (R-30), Senator Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-28), Senator Michelle Brooks (R-50), Representative Robert Leadbeter (R-109), Representative Natalie Mihalek (R-40), Representative Jesse Topper (R-78), and Representative Jake Banta (R-4).

Kennedy and federal Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins began the new by issuing the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which offer updated recommendations for a healthy diet and provide the foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies. They come as Kennedy has for months stressed overhauling the U.S. food supply as part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda.

The guidelines emphasize consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, long advised as part of a healthy eating plan. Officials released a new graphic depicting an inverted version of the long-abandoned food pyramid, with protein, dairy, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables at the top and whole grains at the bottom.

But they also take a new stance on “highly processed” foods, and refined carbohydrates, urging consumers to avoid “packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy.” That’s a different term for ultraprocessed foods, the tasty, energy-dense products that make up more than half the calories in the U.S. diet and have been linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

The new guidance backs away from revoking long-standing advice to limit saturated fats, despite signals from Kennedy and Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary that the administration would push for more consumption of animal fats to end the “war” on saturated fats.

Instead, the document suggests that Americans should choose whole-food sources of saturated fat — such as meat, whole-fat dairy or avocados — while continuing to limit saturated fat consumption to no more than 10% of daily calories. The guidance says “other options can include butter or beef tallow,” despite previous recommendations to avoid those fats.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are driving a generational shift in American health care,” Secretary Kennedy said. “Earlier this month, Secretary Brooke Rollins and I delivered the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades with the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. I thank Representative David Rowe and his colleagues in the Pennsylvania State Legislature for advancing public health.”

After the stop in Harrisburg, Kennedy traveled from Harrisburg to Manheim in Lancaster County where third-generation owner Ron Kreider welcomed him to Kreider Farms for a tour of the dairy’s “Moo-ternity Barn” and Rotary Parlor milking facility. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion with local farmers and a conversation with elderly residents about the needs of Pennsylvania’s rural communities.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report