On Thursday, May 22nd, the Trump administration released its first “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report, directly targeting “food giants” such as Bayer and Facebook for exacerbating the health crisis among American children. The report points out that poor diet, chemical substances, and social media are the main causes of the prevalence of chronic diseases.
The 68-page report was published by the White House. In February of this year, President Trump signed an executive order establishing the “Make America Healthy Again Commission,” which was responsible for drafting this report covering various factors that may affect children’s development, including food, healthcare, and the environment.
The report echoes the long-standing concerns of current Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including issues such as environmental pollution, highly processed foods, sugary beverages, and children’s lack of outdoor activities.
The report states, “This evaluation delves deep into the root causes of declining children’s health, providing a clear basis and evidence for policy interventions, systemic reforms, and societal changes.”
Several companies are named in the report’s footnotes, including the German multinational company Bayer (manufacturer of glyphosate herbicide), BASF, Syngenta, and Corteva. The report questions whether industry-funded research interferes with scientific studies on the health effects of chemical substances.
The report mentions, “Limited comparisons between industry-funded research and non-industry studies have raised concerns about potential biases.”
The report also discusses publication bias issues, stating, “Such biases may lead to the publication of positive results more easily, thereby amplifying potential differences in the literature and restricting the publication of unfavorable results.”
In recent years, Bayer has faced lawsuits worth billions of dollars concerning its glyphosate products. In March of this year, the company lost a trial in Georgia, where it was ordered to compensate the plaintiffs $21 billion. Despite Bayer’s repeated citations of research reports claiming glyphosate is safe, the herbicide remains highly controversial. In 2023, glyphosate was reapproved in the European Union with validity until 2033.
The report also indicates potential impacts of social media on children’s health. It cites an internal research report on Facebook, suggesting that the platform may trigger body image issues and mental health problems among children.
The report highlights concerns about large tech companies’ comprehensive impact on children’s digital environment, especially regarding whether corporate practices comply with child protection frameworks and whether parental supervision is being eroded.
Additionally, the report calls out food giant Kraft for the influence of “Big Food” on American dietary health, particularly the abundance of highly processed foods.
The report emphasizes, “A few companies control the majority of food production, significantly impacting children’s health.”