# Americans are split on how useful dietary guidelines really are

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/americans-are-split-on-how-useful-dietary-guidelines-really-are/

> Indexed question in Health.

## Reading

Americans divide almost evenly on the new Dietary Guidelines: 41% think they are at least somewhat useful for deciding what to eat, while 44% think they are not, according to a Verasight survey conducted March 6-16, 2026.

Views on both sides run more lukewarm than firm. On the useful side, 31% call the guidelines somewhat useful against just 10% very useful; on the skeptical side, 23% say not very useful and 21% not at all. Another 15% are unsure.

## Topline

How useful do you think the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are for helping people decide what to eat?

Americans are split on how useful dietary guidelines really are.

- Somewhat useful: 31.1%
- Not very useful: 22.8%
- Not at all useful: 20.7%
- Not sure: 15.1%
- Very useful: 10.2%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2026-03-06 → 2026-03-16
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.5%
- Module: Module 5: Health, Community, & Personal Values
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-5-14](https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-5-14)

## Citation

Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.5%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-5-14](https://reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044#q-5-14)