National Dietary Guidelines have been published in many countries to support healthier food habits among the public. In Sweden, the guidelines are produced in a process involving experts and stakeholders under the responsibility of the National Food Agency. Stakeholder perspectives on the concept of state dietary advice was explored in this study, by analyzing 40 referral responses on updated guidelines in Sweden 2015. The study focused on ideas about how state dietary advice should be framed and what it should be based on. Thematic analysis was used and resulted in two main themes. 'Securing scientifically proven advice' represented a perspective of the guidelines as to be scientifically correct and verified, and built upon an underlying assumption to present an objective and optimal composition of foods and nutrients that will fit all. Arguments based on nutritional reductionism could be seen, which gave a delimited idea of what healthy food is. 'Getting the message across' represented a perspective of the guidelines to be easily understood by and inclusive to the end user. Clarity in advice was seen to be reached by explaining difficult words, defining amounts and exact mechanisms of why something is a good choice. Also this perspective added to excluding other values of food, especially qualitative ones. The construction of a healthy diet in these remittance responses builds upon a notion of an ideal diet composed on the basis of the best scientific proof and clearly presented so as to be easily understood and practiced. It was clearly based on an individualistic behavioral view making the individual responsible to make informed and good choices for a healthy diet. This approach may be questioned, as it is too simplified to include the complex reality of everyday life.