When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sits for his affirmation listening to to doubtlessly develop into the pinnacle of the Division of Well being and Human Providers (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 help: meals coverage.
Kennedy has spoken out towards the hazards of ultra-processed meals, components, and the affect of enormous firms 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 elements broadly aligns with efforts from each side of the political aisle and has been praised by main public well being specialists.
Kennedy’s nomination to run HHS would put him able to straight affect insurance policies round meals regulation, vitamin 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 “exceptional, 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 vitamin labels. One of the crucial important instruments Kennedy would have at his disposal, based on Mande, is HHS’ involvement within the Dietary Pointers for Individuals, a doc that shapes federal vitamin 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 based on its priorities. “It’s just like the phases of the moon,” Mande says of the HHS position. “It is at its peak when it comes to 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 Pointers 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 illnesses, a problem he believes has been uncared for by each main events. Moreover, Kennedy has been outspoken about limiting 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, similar to these utilized in Froot Loops, which he claims have opposed results on youngsters’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, mentioned he would permit Kennedy to “go wild on the meals” after Kennedy dropped his personal impartial presidential bid and endorsed him.
At a Senate listening to on Thursday, FDA officers have been requested in regards to the company’s repeated delays in implementing a proposed rule to position well being labels on the entrance of food 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 impartial from Vermont and chair of the Senate Well being Committee. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf mentioned the delay was obligatory to make sure that any proposed rule would face up to potential authorized challenges, citing latest Supreme Courtroom rulings which have curtailed the ability of federal businesses.
Sanders additional mentioned he agreed with a few of Kennedy’s positions on meals coverage, notably his criticism of how the meals business prioritizes income over public well being, after the listening to. “I feel what he is saying in regards to the meals business is strictly right,” he advised CBS Information. “You’ve got a meals business involved about their income, may care much less in regards to the well being of the American folks. I feel they must be taken on.”
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Any regulatory actions, nevertheless, would seemingly conflict with the agricultural business 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 firms in processed meals, agriculture, and biotechnology—has lengthy fought efforts to tighten rules on elements, 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’ capability to function freely.
Past business pushback, Kennedy may additionally face sensible challenges in funding his initiatives. The FDA’s meals division operates on a good finances, counting on congressional appropriations moderately than the self-sustaining consumer 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 vitamin work,” Mande says of the FDA’s finances. “They aren’t in a position to make an affect on this house as a result of Congress does not fund them.”
Nonetheless, even a few of Kennedy’s positions on meals and vitamin are controversial. His proposed overhaul of the FDA’s meals division additionally consists of his need to fireplace 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 specialists. 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 assorted merchandise, together with uncooked milk and hydroxychloroquine. He has beforehand promoted the consumption of uncooked milk, claiming that it “advances human well being,” although each the FDA and the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) have warned that consuming uncooked milk can expose folks to harmful micro organism, similar to E. coli and listeria. Kennedy additionally opposes including fluoride in consuming water, a follow that reinforces oral well being and has been a cornerstone of U.S. public well being coverage for many years, citing research that counsel a hyperlink between excessive ranges of fluoride in consuming water and neurobehavioral issues.
The Senate affirmation course of can even scrutinize Kennedy’s views on vaccines. Public well being officers are deeply involved about the potential of inserting one of many nation’s main anti-vaccine advocates on the helm of HHS, an company chargeable for overseeing the security of vaccines. “Some would say what he says on food regimen and [the] significance of wholesome meals is cheap,” Sen. Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, mentioned on Thursday through the Senate Well being Committee listening to with FDA officers. “Nevertheless, one affordable opinion doesn’t qualify somebody to run the US Division of Well being and Human Providers.”
