“This is not food. These are substances that mimic food,” said the newly appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., during a press conference on April 15 where he described many high-calorie but low-nutrient artificial foods. He emphasized that items like strawberry flavoring in foods lack nutrient content and are essentially just sugar. Kennedy pointed out that the body craves sugar, but it doesn’t provide sustenance, leading to a desire to consume more without actual nutritional benefits.
Kennedy has long been an advocate for promoting genuine healthy living and is supportive of President Donald Trump’s call for “fresh thinking on nutrition” as part of the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. On April 15, Kennedy spoke at a press conference in Indianapolis, Indiana, supporting Governor Mike Braun’s announcement of nine health-related executive orders.
He urged states to prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds for purchasing high-sugar, low-nutrient foods. SNAP, commonly known as the food stamp program, is a federal initiative managed by states to assist nearly 42 million low-income Americans in covering the cost of groceries.
States must apply for exemptions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to alter the list of eligible SNAP food purchases. Currently, several states, including Indiana, are taking steps in this direction.
Advocates of this reform consider it a common-sense approach to providing people with better food choices when shopping. Critics, however, view it as merely virtue signaling without substantial impact.
Kennedy hopes that this measure will promote a movement towards healthier food consumption in America in order to combat the rising obesity rates.
The prevalence of enticing but nutritionally deficient foods in the U.S. is attributed by Kennedy and others to major tobacco companies, which entered the food industry over 60 years ago. According to a report in The BMJ, tobacco giants like R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris began acquiring sugary beverage brands in the 1960s and targeted American children with marketing strategies borrowed from their tobacco business background.
Researchers revealed that tobacco executives passed on their marketing knowledge to young consumers and expanded their product lines using tactics designed for selling cigarettes. This strategic shift led these companies to dominate the food sector, with major brands like Kraft, General Foods, and Nabisco falling under their ownership. Strategies formerly used for tobacco and sugary drinks were applied to other food products that people could not resist.
A study by researchers at the University of Kansas found that tobacco companies promoted “hyper-palatable” foods more than other food companies from 1988 to 2001. These foods were specifically designed to be irresistibly appealing due to their high levels of fat, sugar, salt, or carbohydrates.
“While we may feel physically full after consuming these hyper-palatable foods, they provide less satisfaction in terms of essential nutrients. Consequently, it is challenging to stop eating them,” explained Tera Fazzino, Deputy Director of the Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment at the University of Kansas.
Kennedy underscored that the obesity crisis in the U.S. threatens the health and safety of all Americans. He mentioned that a substantial portion of American children are not fit for military service due to nutritional deficiencies caused by consuming nutrient-poor foods.
According to a federal report in 2023, nearly 70% of American adults are either overweight or obese. The obesity rate has doubled in the past 60 years, with severe obesity rates increasing tenfold.
This issue extends beyond the U.S., with over 60% of Europeans reported as obese or overweight according to data from the National Institutes of Health. The global prevalence of obesity has been steadily rising for decades.
Both Indiana and Arkansas have become the first states to submit exemption requests to the USDA. These states applied on April 15, seeking to exclude soda and candy from SNAP purchases. Several other states have indicated their intention to seek exemptions, with some considering legislative action in this regard.
While some support the ban on soda and candy purchases with SNAP benefits, others have raised doubts about its practicality, especially given the current economic difficulties faced by many in accessing affordable food options.
There are various proposed measures to address the issue, including taxing soda to curb consumption, improving the nutritional value of school lunches, and banning unhealthy food advertising targeting children. However, some experts advocate for a comprehensive societal approach rather than targeting specific groups.
Nana Gletsu Miller, an Associate Professor of Public Health at Indiana University, supports educating the public rather than implementing coercive measures. She believes that nutritional education has proven effective while restricting food choices lacks sufficient evidence of efficacy.
Dr. Tamara S. Hannon, a Clinical Pediatric Endocrinologist and Director of Clinical Diabetes Program at Indiana University School of Medicine, highlighted the deeper issue of the lack of affordable nutritious options in the market. She emphasized the need for accessible healthy food choices at affordable prices.
Kennedy acknowledged that the current healthcare environment in the U.S. may not support healthy outcomes but expressed optimism that it can be changed through collaborative efforts across federal, state, and local levels.
In conclusion, Kennedy emphasized that the events unfolding in Indiana are driving a movement towards transforming America’s health eating culture.