Biden officials appear to be signaling support for key parts of President Robert F. Kennedy's “Make America Healthy Again” agenda as he nears leaving office.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf encouraged healthy eating and removed food from the nation's food supply during a Dec. 5 Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing. He expressed support for several of MAHA's priorities to eliminate harmful ingredients. The senators focused on President Kennedy's bipartisan concerns about the role processed foods play in contributing to the nation's growing chronic disease and obesity epidemic. bring It comes to mind of voters during election campaign. (Related: RFK's call to ban one of Big Pharma's most powerful tools is rattling drug companies despite uncertain political outlook)
“What's going on here is… The food industry has discovered that the combination of sweet carbohydrates and salt has an effect on our brains, and I think it's addictive,” Khalif said. said Lawmakers during a public hearing. “I think it's the same neural circuitry that's involved in opioid addiction and other types of addiction. ”
🚩 FDA Commissioner Robert Califf says ultra-processed foods are designed to be addictive, and GLP-1 drugs interrupt that craving 'circuit'
“What's happening here is that the food industry understands that the combination of sweetness, carbohydrates, and salt affects our bodies… pic.twitter.com/ORLjYM0Gkb
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) December 8, 2024
“If you've ever tried to eat a piece of potato chip, it's almost impossible. There's a reason why,” Khalif added.
Mr. Khalifa and members of Congress against the potential harm to human health caused by processed foods, as seen in the Senate hearing on banning synthetic food colors and limiting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for healthy foods. Their recognition shows that the movement is gaining momentum. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are also lagging behind Presidents Trump and Kennedy's MAHA agenda.
“Mr. Tuberville is a long-time fan of RFK Jr.'s health policy and 100% supports his efforts to work with President Trump to make America healthy again,” a spokesperson for the Republican Alabama senator said. Tommy Tuberville said. The Senate Assistance Committee told the Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement.
“Stop the mass poisoning of American children”
Khalif and his counterpart Jim Jones, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, said Lawmakers announced that the agency will decide on a petition to ban the artificial food coloring Red Dye 3 nationwide. scrutiny An announcement is expected from Kennedy and MAHA activists in the coming weeks.
F.D.A. prohibited Red Dye 3, used in cosmetics and skin care products, was introduced in 1990 after scientific studies revealed that synthetic dyes caused cancer in laboratory animals, but synthetic dyes are safe to ingest. defended it.
“red [Dye No.] 3 known to cause cancer [when used in] Although it is used in cosmetics, it is still allowed in food. I don’t understand that,” Tuberville told Khalif during the hearing.
It's time to hold the FDA accountable for this madness. Red #3 is not allowed in my lipstick, but I am allowed to give it to cancer patients (Ensure) and children (Nesquik). https://t.co/H84G9C6SyW
— Vani Hari (@thefoodbabe) December 6, 2024
Democratic New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said: published A Dec. 5 letter asked the FDA to ban Red Dye 3 from the food supply.
“This chemical is in our food for no other reason than to lure and mislead consumers by changing the color of the food to make it appear more appealing,” Pallone wrote.
This color additive is made from petroleum to give foods and beverages a bright cherry red color and is used in thousands of foods in the United States. halloween candyspecific brand saffron rice and mashed potatoes.
The Biden administration is rushing to ban indefensible and neurodegenerative food coloring before the end of its term.
All credits should be as follows @realDonaldTrump and @RobertKennedyJr Thank you for putting these legitimate health issues at the top of the national agenda.
In addition to… https://t.co/Pprq6JKyOE
— Calley Means (@calleymeans) December 7, 2024
Signed by Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom law In October 2023, Red Dye 3 and other food additives linked to cancer were banned last year, making California the first state in the nation to ban synthetic dyes.
The European Union, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have banned Red Dye 3 for food use, and some of these countries have made exceptions for its use in cherry products. According to submitted to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group that petitions the FDA to ban synthetic dyes.
Kennedy is explained These synthetic dyes are “chemical poisons.” Although the FDA considers these artificial ingredients safe to consume, many should not. linked cancer, hyperactivity in children, behavioral problems, According to For various scientific research.
“If only one of them [color additives] Just imagine what they're doing together that can cause all of these problems,” Kennedy said in the video. Posted “If we could eliminate all these chemicals, our country would soon become healthier.”
“President Trump and I will stop the mass poisoning of American children.”
Dr. Marty McCurry, President Trump candidate To lead the FDA, echoed President Kennedy is concerned about the dangers of food additives that are contributing to the nation's chronic disease epidemic.
“We use food dyes, some of which cause anxiety and depression. The body responds with inflammation, which continually makes people feel sick.” and Mr. McCurry said FOX Business on October 2nd. “We have to talk about the supply of poisoned food.”
McCurry's skepticism about the safety of 36 FDA-approved color additives in the food supply could cause the FDA to reexamine the potential harms of these artificial ingredients in the food supply . It is likely that he will gain support from lawmakers during his term in office.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin asked DCNF in a statement about whether the FDA should reevaluate the health risks of artificial food ingredients, saying, “Honesty scientific research should guide future actions.” Ta. “Returning integrity to research should be a top priority.”
A Tuberville spokesperson told DCNF that the Alabama Republican lawmaker supports banning additional color additives if the FDA determines that the color is dangerous to human health.
“Would you like to buy some health food?”
Mr. Califf also expressed support for limiting SNAP benefits to healthy foods at a Senate hearing, which was a top priority on Mr. Kennedy and MAHA activists' agenda during the second Trump administration. .
Approximately one in eight Americans uses SNAP to pay for groceries, and even though more than 40% of Americans are obese, the U.S. government spends billions of dollars a year on junk food and soda. Subsidizes the purchase of beverages. Nearly 25% of SNAP spending goes to junk food, and about 10% of all SNAP purchases go to soda (the largest item purchased by SNAP users). According to According to a 2016 USDA study.(Related: President Trump and RFK Jr.'s pledge to 'make America healthy again' signals a major shift in Republican priorities)
“There is also some evidence to suggest that SNAP benefit purchases are generally less healthy for households that use SNAP benefits and for households that do not use them than for households that do not use SNAP benefits, even in the same region.” said Democratic Virginia Sen. Tim. Mr. Cain told Mr. Califf during the hearing.
Khalif agreed, telling lawmakers that reforming SNAP benefits would be “one of the most important things” the federal government can do to combat the obesity and chronic disease epidemics.
“The U.S. government has purchasing power, so why not buy healthy food?” Khalif added.
The move by Kennedy, MAHA activists and some Republican lawmakers to cut off SNAP benefits for processed foods is opposed by agricultural interests and major food companies, whose processed foods receive billions of dollars in SNAP purchases each year. may face.
Republican Oklahoma Congressman Josh Brechen introduced A bill has been introduced that would exclude soda and junk food from SNAP purchases, but the bill has not passed the House Agriculture Committee. Breheen Given President Kennedy's prior advocacy on the issue, which he plans to reintroduce in the next Congress, SNAP reform may be more acceptable.
“Given the negative health effects, perhaps it is time to reevaluate whether taxpayers should fund these products through SNAP,” Brechen told DCNF in a statement. “If someone wants to buy junk food with their own money, that's up to them. But what we're saying is, don't ask taxpayers to pay for that, and don't expect them to pay for the resulting health effects either. ”
That's why our office plans to reintroduce the HealthySnap Act next year to address the obesity epidemic and curb reckless spending.
American taxpayers should not be spending on junk food that provides no nutritional value to the nation. @calleymeans https://t.co/pjKV5dLlhd
— Rep. Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) December 4, 2024
Efforts by Kennedy and MAHA activists to reduce SNAP benefits for processed foods may also face obstacles due to Kennedy's distance from food policy centers within the federal bureaucracy. . Even though it's Trump promised In an effort to get Kennedy “enthusiastic about food” during his campaign, Kennedy's nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services led to Kennedy's appointment to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the agency responsible for administering SNAP and developing dietary guidelines. ) was to be placed outside. Brooke Rollins, President Trump's nominee to head the Department of Agriculture, does not appear to be taking a position on reforming SNAP benefits.
The Trump-Vance transition team did not respond to DCNF's request for comment on whether the incoming administration plans to crack down on artificial dyes or reform SNAP benefits. President Kennedy's press secretary also did not respond to a request for comment.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent, nonpartisan news distribution service, is available free of charge to legitimate news publishers with large audiences. All republished articles must include our logo, reporter byline, and DCNF affiliation. If you have any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact us at licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
