When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sits for his affirmation listening to to probably turn into the pinnacle of the Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS), he’ll face scrutiny over his vaccine skepticism and unorthodox views on drugs. However there’s one space Kennedy might be able to discover bipartisan assist: meals coverage.
Kennedy has spoken out towards the hazards of ultra-processed meals, components, and the affect of enormous companies on meals manufacturing. Whereas his anti-vaccine views have drawn widespread criticism, his stance on combating power illness by ridding the nation’s meals provide of dangerous chemical substances and substances broadly aligns with efforts from either side of the political aisle and has been praised by main public well being consultants.
Kennedy’s nomination to run HHS would put him able to straight affect insurance policies round meals regulation, diet requirements, and federal dietary tips. Jerold Mande, a former Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) senior adviser and deputy undersecretary for meals security on the Division of Agriculture beneath two Democratic presidents, says there’s “outstanding, robust bipartisan concern about ultra-processed meals.”
As HHS Secretary, Kennedy would oversee the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA), which has the authority to control meals security and diet labels. One of the vital instruments Kennedy would have at his disposal, in response to Mande, is HHS’ involvement within the Dietary Tips for People, a doc that shapes federal diet recommendation. The rules, up to date each 5 years, inform public well being messaging in addition to meals help packages and authorities meals buying. The method is political, with every administration shaping the rules in response to its priorities. “It’s just like the phases of the moon,” Mande says of the HHS position. “It is at its peak by way of energy proper now. It is extremely uncommon that dietary tips would straddle two administrations like this the place work would start in a single however be accomplished within the different.”
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For Kennedy, overseeing the Dietary Tips course of may present a platform to push for stronger suggestions towards ultra-processed meals—notably these laden with sugar, fats, and dangerous components. He has pledged to instantly take away processed meals from faculty cafeterias and to strengthen efforts to fight food-related power ailments, a difficulty he believes has been uncared for by each main events. Moreover, Kennedy has been outspoken about proscribing using pesticides and limiting seed oils like canola and sunflower, which he argues contribute to the rising well being issues in America. He has additionally referred to as for a ban on synthetic meals dyes, corresponding to these utilized in Froot Loops, which he claims have antagonistic results on kids’s well being. “We have to cease feeding our kids poison and begin feeding them actual, healthful meals once more,” Kennedy posted on X on Nov. 2.
Kennedy has criticized the FDA for being overly lenient on meals components and processing requirements. If confirmed, he would seemingly press for stricter rules, clearer meals labeling, and elevated transparency on dangerous components. President-elect Donald Trump, who nominated Kennedy for the place, stated he would enable Kennedy to “go wild on the meals” after Kennedy dropped his personal unbiased presidential bid and endorsed him.
At a Senate listening to on Thursday, FDA officers have been requested concerning the company’s repeated delays in implementing a proposed rule to put well being labels on the entrance of foods and drinks packages, which might flag excessive ranges of sodium, saturated fats, or added sugars amid rising weight problems charges. “How lengthy does it take to place a bloody label on a product?” requested Sen. Bernie Sanders, an unbiased from Vermont and chair of the Senate Well being Committee. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf stated the delay was needed to make sure that any proposed rule would face up to potential authorized challenges, citing latest Supreme Court docket rulings which have curtailed the facility of federal businesses.
Sanders additional stated he agreed with a few of Kennedy’s positions on meals coverage, notably his criticism of how the meals trade prioritizes income over public well being, after the listening to. “I believe what he is saying concerning the meals trade is strictly appropriate,” he instructed CBS Information. “You may have a meals trade involved about their income, may care much less concerning the well being of the American individuals. I believe they should be taken on.”
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Any regulatory actions, nonetheless, would seemingly conflict with the agricultural trade and enormous meals conglomerates, which have a historical past of lobbying towards modifications they deem dangerous to their backside line. The meals foyer—which incorporates corporations in processed meals, agriculture, and biotechnology—has lengthy fought efforts to tighten rules on substances, labeling, and meals manufacturing practices. Kennedy’s name for stricter rules on pesticides and agricultural chemical substances may additionally alienate some Republicans, who’ve historically opposed authorities regulation, notably when it impacts companies’ means to function freely.
Past trade pushback, Kennedy may additionally face sensible challenges in funding his initiatives. The FDA’s meals division operates on a decent funds, counting on congressional appropriations slightly than the self-sustaining person charges that fund the company’s drug division. Mande notes that fiscal constraints have hindered previous efforts to implement main meals reforms, and Kennedy may face comparable difficulties. “They’ve lower than $25 million to do their diet work,” Mande says of the FDA’s funds. “They aren’t capable of make an impression on this house as a result of Congress does not fund them.”
Nonetheless, even a few of Kennedy’s positions on meals and diet are controversial. His proposed overhaul of the FDA’s meals division additionally contains his need to fireside nutritionists on the company as a result of they’re “not doing their job,” a stance that has raised considerations from some public well being consultants. Such a drastic transfer may additional complicate his affirmation, notably amongst Democrats and public well being advocates who’re already cautious of his broader views. Kennedy has accused the FDA of “aggressive suppression” of varied merchandise, together with uncooked milk and hydroxychloroquine. He has beforehand promoted the consumption of uncooked milk, claiming that it “advances human well being,” despite the fact that each the FDA and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) have warned that ingesting uncooked milk can expose individuals to harmful micro organism, corresponding to E. coli and listeria. Kennedy additionally opposes including fluoride in ingesting water, a apply that enhances oral well being and has been a cornerstone of U.S. public well being coverage for many years, citing research that recommend a hyperlink between excessive ranges of fluoride in ingesting water and neurobehavioral issues.
The Senate affirmation course of may also scrutinize Kennedy’s views on vaccines. Public well being officers are deeply involved about the potential for putting one of many nation’s main anti-vaccine advocates on the helm of HHS, an company liable for overseeing the security of vaccines. “Some would say what he says on eating regimen and [the] significance of wholesome meals is cheap,” Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, stated on Thursday through the Senate Well being Committee listening to with FDA officers. “Nonetheless, one cheap opinion doesn’t qualify somebody to run the USA Division of Well being and Human Companies.”
