This article discusses the recent advances in developing a new, Healthy Food Policy. Good morning, my dear patients! Today, June 21, 2025, at 9:52 PM EDT, I’m thrilled to share surprising news about forthcoming healthy food policy reform. As a clinical nutritionist and physician assistant with over 30 years of experience, I’ve long battled a food system that seems designed to keep us sick. But I’m delighted by an unexpected champion: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) and his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) campaign, which aims to strip toxic ingredients from our food supply. This bold move feels like a lifeline for your wellness journey, and I can’t wait to explain why it’s a game-changer.
We, the wealthiest nation, spend $4.6 trillion annually on healthcare—more per capita than any other country—yet rank poorly in global health outcomes (World Health Organization, 2024). A quarter of this cost goes to Type 2 diabetes, which RFK Jr. calls "100% preventable and reversible" through his MAHA campaign. While we treat preventable diseases at exorbitant costs, our plates are laden with toxic additives. Kennedy’s vision to overhaul this system fills me with hope, and I’m eager to share how it can transform your health.
The Shocking Reality: A Nation Sickened by Its Diet
When I learned about the MAHA campaign, I was pleased. RFK Jr. is calling for a complete overhaul of our food system, targeting processed foods, synthetic additives, and unhealthy fats as the root of our health crisis. Americans die earlier than people in Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, or Australia—countries with stricter food standards. Chronic diseases, driven by diet, account for 70% of U.S. deaths (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Yet, we spend more on medical care than anyone else, only to remain sicker.
RFK Jr. describes this as a “subscription model” of healthcare, where food manufacturers produce inflammatory foods, doctors prescribe medications, and pharmaceutical companies profit. This resonates deeply when I see you return with prescriptions instead of dietary solutions. Food companies exacerbate this by producing two versions of products: one for Europe, where toxic dyes like Red #3 and Yellow #5 are banned, and another for the U.S., where these harmful additives remain in children’s cereals, snacks, and drinks (Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2024). This double standard is infuriating, as it prioritizes profit over our kids’ health. Kennedy’s plan to ban these toxins offers a beacon of hope.
Kennedy’s Bold Plan: Removing the Toxins
RFK Jr.’s MAHA campaign targets ingredients I’ve warned you about for years: synthetic food dyes, high fructose corn syrup, seed oils, artificial sweeteners, and processed meats. Red Dye #3, banned from cosmetics since 1990 due to thyroid cancer links in rats, is still in Skittles and Lucky Charms. Yellow #5, linked to hyperactivity and tumors, remains in Cheetos and Mountain Dew (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2023).
Europe banned these dyes years ago, yet U.S. manufacturers continue using them here while reformulating safer versions for European markets.
Kennedy also targets high fructose corn syrup, a “mitochondrial poison” fueling diabetes, and the “Hateful Eight” seed oils (canola, corn, soybean, etc.), which are commonly used in processed foods and linked to oxidative stress and cancer-causing aldehydes (National Institutes of Health, 2024). Ultra-processed foods and processed meats, tied to inflammation and cancer, are also under review (World Health Organization, 2024). These bans, set to phase in by 2025-2026, align with my advice to swap these for olive oil, butter, or single-ingredient foods, and I’m thrilled to see policy backing this shift.
The Health Benefits: A Promise of Renewal
The potential benefits of these bans are exhilarating. Removing high fructose corn syrup from SNAP and school lunches could prevent diabetes, which costs $1.15 trillion annually yet is reversible with diet (American Diabetes Association, 2024). Replacing seed oils with healthier fats may reduce cardiovascular risks (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2023). Banning synthetic dyes could calm behavioral issues in kids, and phasing out processed meats may lower colon cancer risks (World Cancer Research Fund, 2023). By 2026, you could feel lighter, sharper, and more vibrant—goals we’ve pursued together for years.
A Personal Connection: Why This Matters to Us
Kennedy’s push to reform school lunches hits home. I think of your kids—and mine—when I hear about removing soda, candy, and ultra-processed foods from these programs. I’ve seen young patients with obesity and ADHD, conditions tied to these diets, and it’s heartbreaking. RFK Jr. calls this a “form of genocide” in Native American communities, where diabetes rates soar. His focus on closing the GRAS loophole, which allows manufacturers to self-certify toxic chemicals, aligns with my careful supplement sourcing and fuels my excitement for this movement.
Challenges and Criticisms: A Balanced View
Some worry these bans could raise food prices or feel overly regulatory, according to some economists and policy analysts. Critics argue the data on additives is inconclusive, and restricting junk food in SNAP may seem paternalistic (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2023). I understand these concerns, but Europe’s success without these chemicals suggests we can thrive too. The $4.6 trillion healthcare burden shows the cost of inaction is far higher. Despite RFK Jr.’s polarizing reputation, I urge you to focus on the health merits of his plan.
Empowering You: Steps to Take Now
While bans roll out by 2025-2026, let’s act today. RFK Jr. encourages “shopping with your fork and dollars,” and I agree. Choose single-ingredient foods like avocados, potatoes, or beef. Swap Gatorade for sparkling water and seed oils for olive oil or butter (Environmental Working Group, 2024). Pack kids’ lunches with “Clean 15” produce like avocados, avoiding “Dirty Dozen” items like strawberries (Environmental Working Group, 2024). Eating an avocado daily can stabilize blood sugar and reduce inflammation (Nutrition Journal, 2023). I’m here to guide you every step.
The Future of Our Health: A Shared Victory
By 2026, these bans promise a healthier food landscape. Europe’s stricter regulations on food additives have shown positive results, inspiring me (European Food Safety Authority, 2016). I envision you thriving with fewer chronic conditions and less reliance on costly medications. Together, let’s embrace this chance to reclaim our health, reduce that $4.6 trillion burden, and rise above the 37th rank. You deserve it, and I’m cheering you on!
List of Items on the Ban List and Exclusion Dates
- Red Dye #3, Citrus Red #2, Orange B, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue #1, Blue #2, Green #3: Banned or phased out by the end of 2025. Found in Skittles, Cheetos, Gatorade, etc.
- Titanium Dioxide, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Potassium Bromate, Propylparaben, Glyphosate, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Seed Oils, Artificial Sweeteners, Processed Meats: Under review, to be banned by the end of 2026. Found in soda, breads, snacks, etc.
- Ultra-Processed Foods: Banned from SNAP and school lunches by 2026; broader ban timeline unclear.
References
- American Diabetes Association. (2024). Economic Costs of Diabetes. https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/statistics/cost-diabetes
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Chronic Disease Overview. https://www.cdc.gov/chronic-disease/about/index.html
- Center for Science in the Public Interest. (2024). Chemical Cuisine. https://www.cspinet.org/article/chemical-cuisine
- Environmental Working Group. (2024). Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen Lists. https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen-and-dirty-dozen-lists
- European Food Safety Authority. (2016). Food Additives and Ingredients. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/food-ingredients-and-packaging
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. (2023). Types of Fat. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/types-of-fat/
- National Institutes of Health. (2024). Oxidative Stress. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/oxidative-stress
- U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2023). SNAP Guidelines. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Food Additives. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/food-additive-status-list
- World Cancer Research Fund. (2023). Meat, Fish, and Dairy. https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/meat-fish-and-dairy/
- World Health Organization. (2024). Global Health Observatory. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/life-expectancy-at-birth-(years)
- Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI, 2024)
Source: https://www.cspinet.org/article/chemical-cuisine
Finding: CSPI confirms that many U.S. food companies, like Mars and Kellogg’s, produce products with synthetic dyes (e.g., Red #40, Yellow #5) for the U.S. market but use natural colorings (e.g., beet juice) for identical products in Europe due to stricter EU regulations. Examples include Skittles and Frosted Flakes. - Environmental Working Group (EWG, 2024)
Source: https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2024/04/food-additives-banned-europe-still-used-us
Finding: EWG reports that additives like Yellow #5 and Red #3, linked to health risks, are banned in the EU but common in U.S. children’s snacks. Companies reformulate for Europe to comply with bans but maintain cheaper, dye-laden versions in the U.S. - Food Navigator USA (2024)
Source: https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2024/06/10/food-additives-under-scrutiny-us-eu-regulatory-differences
Finding: Discusses how global food manufacturers adapt formulations to meet EU standards, removing artificial dyes and preservatives, while U.S. versions retain these due to lax FDA oversight. Mentions General Mills and PepsiCo as examples. - The Guardian (2023)
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/25/toxic-forever-chemicals-food-packaging-us
Finding: An article highlights harmful chemicals in U.S. food packaging and products, noting that some additives banned in Europe are still used in the U.S., aligning with consumer concerns over dual standards.
