Can RFK Jr promote healthier eating habits in America?

Background

Robert F Kennedy Jr has set his sights on changing how Americans eat and drink, pledging to tackle ultra-processed foods, food dyes, and additives that he says hurt Americans’ health.

Industry Complaints

The industry complaints about Kennedy’s agenda do not come as a surprise. Jeff Hutt, a spokesperson for the Make America Healthy Again political action committee, said that even if banning ultra-processed food is not possible politically, it’s a conversation that we need to have.

Regulatory Frameworks

Kennedy still could work within existing US regulatory frameworks to improve America’s food systems. Former officials said Kennedy could take on ultra-processed foods by altering the US Dietary Guidelines, which set nutritional standards for the industry and federal government programmes.

Concerns Over Means of Enactment

Officials and nutrition experts raised concerns about the means by which Kennedy has proposed to enact his agenda, including firing the FDA’s nutritionists. The move would have large ramifications for food safety.

Feasibility of Reforms

Public health experts expressed concerns about the feasibility of Kennedy’s proposals, citing the complexity of reforming the FDA and the potential for industry opposition. Some experts said it is difficult to disentangle some of Kennedy’s more reasonable food-improvement goals with the false health claims he has spread.

Expert Opinions

Dr Lurie said that there’s no evidence of any nutritional benefit of any magnitude that we know that comes from non-pasteurizing of milk, and that Kennedy’s proposal to remove fluoride from drinking water could be problematic. He also stated that seed oils are not helping drive the obesity epidemic.

FDA Authority

The FDA does not have authority over the catch-all of “ultra-processed foods”, several former officials told the BBC. The process is more complicated, with both the US Department of Agriculture and the FDA regulating the food industry.

Industry Backlash

Kennedy will also face industry backlash for proposals to ban pesticides and genetically modified organisms commonly used by American farmers, former FDA officials said.

Industry Opposition

Several food industry groups have met with lawmakers before Kennedy’s appointment this month to lobby against him. The Food Industry Association, which represents food retailers, producers, and manufacturers, has stated that it looks forward to working with President-elect Trump’s team to ensure food and drug policy continues to be grounded in science and reduce regulatory complexity.

Concerns About Means of Enactment

Officials and nutrition experts have raised concerns about the means by which Kennedy plans to enact his agenda, including firing the FDA’s nutritionists. This move would have large ramifications for food safety, according to Ms Lijinsky.

Complexity of Reforming the FDA

The process of reforming the FDA is more complicated than Kennedy lets on, experts say. The FDA does not have authority over ultra-processed foods, and the regulatory framework is complex, involving both the US Department of Agriculture and the FDA.

False Health Claims

Some experts have also raised concerns about Kennedy’s false health claims, such as his proposal to remove fluoride from drinking water, which has been proven to improve dental health. His claim that seed oils are helping drive the obesity epidemic is not based in science, according to Dr Lurie.

Mixed Reactions

While some public health experts support Kennedy’s goal to eliminate ultra-processed foods, others have raised concerns about the feasibility of such reforms and the potential harm caused by certain suggestions. Ultimately, it is difficult to disentangle some of Kennedy’s more reasonable food-improvement goals with the false health claims he has spread.