Consumers looking to adhere to the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) may find the recommendations beneficial to their health but not to their pocketbooks, an analysis by consumer data specialist Numerator shows.
Aligning fully with the 2025-2030 DGA would hoist grocery spending by 32% per person to a monthly range of $106 to $139, or $1,012 annually, according to Numerator’s “New Food Pyramid: How Will Consumer Behavior Change?” study, released April 7 and based on a survey of more than 2,000 consumers. The Chicago-based research firm said much of the increase reflects the new DGA’s focus on store perimeter categories like fresh meat and produce and dairy, which typically cost more per calorie than center-store options.