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Food giants are already scrambling to adjust their products as President Trump’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Commission takes shape under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Commission is already influencing the food industry.
- Major food companies are proactively removing artificial ingredients and preservatives.
- Some restaurants have switched to beef tallow for frying, aligning with RFK Jr.’s recommendations.
- Mondelēz International plans to adopt European recipes for its U.S. products, which may lead to price increases.
- The Commission aims to address the childhood chronic disease crisis and improve overall public health.
Food Industry Responds to New Health Initiative
President Donald Trump’s ambitious “Make America Healthy Again Commission” (MAHA) is already making waves in the food industry, even before its strategy to “Make Our Children Healthy Again” is due in about six months. With Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm, food and beverage brands are taking preemptive action to align with anticipated new standards.
According to Robert Moskow, a food industry analyst for investment bank TD Cowen, companies are proactively removing artificial flavors and preservatives they believe won’t meet future requirements. This shift indicates the significant impact the Commission is expected to have on food production and consumption in America.
Restaurants Lead the Charge
Several prominent restaurant chains have already made public their health-focused changes. Steak ‘n Shake, for instance, announced last month that it would start cooking its fries in beef tallow, a move aligned with RFK Jr.’s promotion of beef tallow over vegetable and seed oils. Sweetgreen and Blue Collar Restaurant Group have also followed suit, replacing seed oils in their cooking processes.
Even McDonald’s, the world’s largest fast food chain, has been put on notice. Secretary Kennedy suggested after his swearing-in that the corporation should be “incentivized” to use beef tallow, signaling potential policy shifts that could affect the entire fast food industry.
Snack Giants Adapt to New Health Standards
Mondelēz International, one of the world’s largest snack companies and owner of iconic brands like Oreo, Ritz, and Cadbury, is also feeling the pressure. CEO Dirk van de Put announced at a recent conference that the company would likely swap out some ingredients and food dyes currently used in favor of its European recipes, which adhere to stricter standards.
“It’s work that needs to be done. It’s a cost that will come.” – Dirk van de Put
This shift, while potentially improving product health profiles, comes with a caveat: consumers should expect price increases to cover the costs of these changes. The move by Mondelēz underscores the far-reaching impact of the MAHA Commission on both product formulations and consumer wallets.
Challenges and Resistance
Despite the willingness of companies to adjust ingredients like dyes and preservatives, Moskow predicts strong resistance to changes in seed oil usage. The food analyst notes that constituents of the agribusiness industry are likely to present studies at upcoming hearings to argue for the safety of these oils, given their low cost and versatility in food production.
“The order focuses on the pharmaceutical industry, linking ‘increased prescription of medication’ to the health crisis, but we believe it also poses risks to food and beverage businesses because the language contains inferences to ultra-processed foods.” – TD Cowen food industry analyst Robert Moskow
Secretary Kennedy has also indicated potential changes to government food programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and the federally-subsidized school lunch program. Given the substantial government spending on these programs — over $112 billion on SNAP and about $17 billion on the National School Lunch Program in fiscal year 2023 — any modifications could have significant ripple effects throughout the food industry.
As the MAHA Commission continues its work, it’s clear that its impact on the American food landscape will be profound and far-reaching. With a focus on transparency, nutrition, and public health, the Commission’s efforts promise to reshape not just what Americans eat, but how the food industry operates in the years to come.