The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) acknowledges recent public interest regarding the resignation of Dr Brad Ridoutt from the Dietary Guidelines Sustainability Working Group.
NHMRC is committed to ensuring that the review of the Australian Dietary Guidelines is conducted with integrity, transparency and in accordance with our established governance processes. The revised Guidelines will first and foremost consider the health impacts of dietary patterns, while also addressing sustainability—defined as accessible, affordable and equitable diets with low environmental impact.
Dr Ridoutt stepped down from the Working Group following a request from NHMRC after declaring involvement in an ongoing CSIRO project funded by industry. This project was considered by NHMRC, after seeking advice from the independent Dietary Guidelines Governance Committee, to present a perceived conflict of interest directly related to the responsibilities of the Working Group. NHMRC has robust policies and procedures for managing actual and perceived conflicts of interest, and these were applied consistently in this case.
We thank Dr Ridoutt for his valuable contributions to the Working Group since his appointment in 2024. His expertise has helped shape the evidence review on sustainability in the Australian context.
The Sustainability Working Group continues to include members with agricultural and environmental expertise. Its role is to advise the Expert Committee on the strength and quality of evidence about sustainability and diet in the Australian context; it does not draft guideline recommendations. NHMRC remains committed to an evidence-based, consultative process that reflects the best available science and the interests of all Australians.
NHMRC also wishes to clarify that recent media commentary suggesting ideological motivations is unfounded. All decisions regarding membership and governance are made in accordance with NHMRC’s independence and statutory obligations, ensuring that the review process remains impartial and evidence-driven.
The revised Dietary Guidelines are due for release in 2026. Until then, Australians should follow recommendations in the 2013 Dietary Guidelines.
For more information about the review of the Australian Dietary Guidelines, including the role of the Sustainability Working Group, the Australian Dietary Guidelines review webpage.