In an era of growing chronic disease and skyrocketing obesity rates, the fight to reform America’s broken food system is picking up steam. On his way out, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf has signaled support for key aspects of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda—an initiative also championed by President Trump and Republican lawmakers. From banning harmful food additives to reshaping the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), this movement is a direct challenge to decades of government inertia and corporate influence in America’s food policies.
🚩 FDA Commissioner Robert Califf Says Ultra-Processed Foods are Engineered to Be Addictive, GLP-1 Drugs Interrupt That Craving ‘Circuit’
“What’s going on here is that the food industry has figured out that there’s a combination of sweet, carbohydrate, and salt that goes to our… pic.twitter.com/ORLjYM0Gkb
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) December 8, 2024
Califf, in a recent Senate hearing, didn’t mince words about the addictive qualities of processed foods. He likened the neurological impact of sugar-laden, salty snacks to the same brain circuits activated by opioid addiction. “If you’ve ever tried to eat one potato chip, it’s almost impossible,” Califf told lawmakers, pointing out the deliberate engineering of junk food to hook consumers. That admission was just the beginning. Discussions at the hearing touched on everything from banning artificial food dyes like Red Dye 3—a known carcinogen—to limiting SNAP benefits to healthier food options.
One glaring issue is Red Dye 3, an artificial food coloring banned in cosmetics over 30 years ago due to its links to cancer in lab animals. Yet, it’s still approved for food use, tainting thousands of products from Halloween candy to boxed mashed potatoes. The inconsistency is baffling. If it’s too dangerous for lipstick, why is it safe for children’s candy?
Time to hold the FDA accountable for this madness. There’s no red #3 allowed in my lipstick, but it’s allowed to be served to cancer patients (Ensure) and children (Nesquick). https://t.co/H84G9C6SyW
— Vani Hari (@thefoodbabe) December 6, 2024
Even Democratic lawmakers like New Jersey’s Frank Pallone have joined Republicans in calling for a ban. Pallone labeled the dye’s presence in food as unnecessary, meant only to make products appear more appealing. It’s a sentiment echoed by Kennedy, who has branded such synthetic additives as “chemical poisons” in his push to remove them from the American food supply.
Globally, the U.S. lags behind. The European Union, Japan, and Australia have long banned Red Dye 3 in food products, recognizing its risks. California recently followed suit, becoming the first state to outlaw the dye and other hazardous additives. If California can act, why can’t the federal government?
The Biden administration is rushing to ban indefensible and neurodegenerative food colorings before the term ends.
All credit should be going to @realDonaldTrump and @RobertKennedyJr for bringing these no-brainer health issues to top of national agenda.
In addition to… https://t.co/Pprq6JKyOE
— Calley Means (@calleymeans) December 7, 2024
Another front in this battle is reforming SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps. With more than 40% of Americans now classified as obese, SNAP’s role in subsidizing junk food purchases has drawn bipartisan criticism. Taxpayer dollars currently fund billions in purchases of soda and processed snacks, contributing directly to the very health crises that burden the system.
Senator Tim Kaine noted that SNAP households often buy less nutritious food than non-SNAP households in the same neighborhoods. Califf agreed, saying limiting SNAP benefits to healthier options would be one of the most impactful steps the federal government could take to combat obesity and chronic disease.
That’s why our office is planning on reintroducing the Healthy SNAP Act next year to address the obesity epidemic and rein in reckless spending.
American taxpayer dollars should not be spent on junk foods that provide no nutritional value to our citizens. @calleymeans https://t.co/pjKV5dLlhd
— Congressman Josh Brecheen (@RepBrecheen) December 4, 2024
But change won’t come easily. Big Food, with its deep ties to agriculture lobbies, won’t give up billions in SNAP revenue without a fight. Bills to reform the program, like one from Rep. Josh Brecheen to exclude soda and junk food, have stalled in Congress. Yet Kennedy and allies remain undeterred, advocating for reforms that align SNAP spending with public health priorities.
