Hi, Food People! We’re not usually in the business of politics, but let’s be honest, it’s impossible to ignore, especially with the incoming Trump administration. Regardless of where you stand on the political spectrum, it’s clear that big changes are on the horizon. So, what does this political shift mean for the good food movement?

Today, we’re zeroing in on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As polarizing as he is outspoken, his unconventional views on health, science, and agriculture could reshape the landscape of food policy.

But here’s the question we’re really asking: When someone reaches the same conclusion as you—but from completely opposite beliefs—is that a barrier or an unexpected opportunity?

At first glance, MAHA—short for Make America Healthy Again—reads like a progressive rallying cry. Its calls to “prioritize regenerative agriculture," “dismantle the corporate stranglehold on government,” and “remove toxins from food, water and air” echo familiar liberal priorities. It’s the kind of thing you might expect to hear from Senator Cory Booker, known for his campaign against factory farms, or Bernie Sanders, who championed the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act to curb junk food aimed at children.

But then there’s the photo: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alongside Donald Trump.

Historically, the fight for a fairer, healthier food system has been driven by Democrats, rooted in concerns over public health, corporate consolidation, and environmental sustainability. Republicans, on the other hand, have often been closely aligned with corporate agriculture and food industry interests, making big reforms politically difficult.

Yet, MAHA’s platform taps into an urgent, bipartisan truth: America’s food system is failing us. One in three adults is overweight or obese. Nearly half of Americans are diabetic or pre-diabetic. Poor diets are responsible for half of all heart disease cases. These aren’t partisan problems—they’re national crises.

Could the movement for healthier, more sustainable food be the rare issue that cuts through America’s deep political divide? Could better food for all become common ground in an era defined by division?

Where wellness meets conspiracy

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. casts himself as a MAHA crusader—an environmentalist, anti-vaccine advocate, and self-proclaimed health enthusiast. At first glance, it’s a confusing mix. But it starts to make sense when viewed through the overlap of the wellness industry and online conspiracy culture.

This intersection isn’t new. Platforms like Mike Adams’ Natural News pioneered this space, blending health advice with conspiracy theories—denouncing GMOs, opposing fluoride, and spreading climate change denial. The underlying message: mainstream science can’t be trusted, and the truth lies in “alternative” solutions.

Kennedy’s involvement with this worldview is hard to ignore. His organization, Children’s Health Defense, has been at the front of anti-vaccine activism and helped fund the viral Plandemic series, which claimed vaccine makers risked lives for profit. This distrust of public health institutions likely informs his push to eliminate ultra-processed foods and reduce agricultural chemicals.

Here’s the dilemma: While many can firmly disagree with his anti-vaccine rhetoric, could there be common ground when it comes to fixing America’s broken food system?

Can Kennedy actually change America’s food system?

Even if Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is genuinely committed to overhauling America’s food system, the path ahead is steep—and full of political roadblocks. His ambitions run headfirst against a Republican Party that has long prioritized deregulation and corporate freedom over public health oversight.

During Donald Trump’s first term, the administration systematically weakened the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—cutting staff, privatizing food inspections, and scaling back safety regulations. (Did someone forget to read The Jungle in school?) Expecting the next Trump term to suddenly embrace more food policies feels, at best, unlikely.

The GOP’s stance on public health has typically leaned on “personal responsibility,” sidestepping the food industry’s role in rising diet-related diseases. That makes Kennedy’s push for systemic reform an awkward fit within the party’s ideology.

But the challenge isn’t just ideological—it’s structural too. The food system is governed by a tangled web of agencies: for example, the FDA (under HHS) handles food safety and labeling, while the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees agriculture. This split has allowed ultra-processed foods to slip through regulatory gaps. Any serious reform—like banning harmful additives or restricting industrial farming practices—would demand action across both agencies.

And Congress isn’t looking eager for change. Powerful lawmakers like Senator Chuck Grassley have already stated opposition to stricter regulations, making bipartisan support for reform a long shot.

Yet, Kennedy’s presence in Trump’s orbit hints at something: the traditional partisan divide over food policy is starting to blur. Whether that opens the door for real change—or simply adds to the political noise—remains to be seen.

What Has RFK Jr. actually said?

While RFK Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again platform is heavy on rhetoric, it’s light on clear policy. Here’s a closer look at some of his statements—and how they stack up against science.

1. School lunches & ultra-processed foods
"We have a generation of kids who are swimming around in a toxic soup right now." – RFK Jr., November 2024

Kennedy has pledged to remove ultra-processed foods from school lunches. These foods—loaded with fats, salt, and sugar—range from frozen pizzas and sugary cereals to snack bars and pre-made sauces. Science is on his side here: studies consistently link ultra-processed foods to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even mental health issues.

2. Cracking down on industry influence
"We’re going to ban the worst agricultural chemicals that are already prohibited in other countries. And we’re going to remove conflicts of interest from the USDA dietary panels and commissions. We’ve got to get off seed oils and we’ve got to get off pesticide-intensive agriculture."

Kennedy targets the “revolving door” between government and industry, where regulators move into lucrative industry jobs and back again. He’s not wrong— 8 of the last 10 FDA commissioners joined Big Pharma after leaving office. The conflict of interest in setting food and health policy is undeniable. Check out this study for more on the link between the revolving door and pharma approvals.

3. Defending raw milk
"FDA’s war on public health is about to end. This includes its aggressive suppression of psychedelics, peptides, stem cells, raw milk, hyperbaric therapies..." – RFK Jr., Tweet on October 23, 2024

Raw milk skips pasteurization, which kills harmful bacteria. Advocates claim it aids digestion and boosts immunity, but there’s little evidence for these benefits. The risks, however, are well-documented—especially for children. Just recently, a raw milk producer recalled products contaminated with bird flu.

4. Vaccines (not food, but still relevant)
Kennedy continues to push debunked claims linking vaccines to autism, a myth born from a fraudulent 1990s study that was retracted and led to the author losing his medical license. Vaccines remain among the most extensively studied and safest public health measures.

A unique (and potentially dangerous) opportunity?

At Food People, we believe that science must be the foundation of any effective policy. Yet, despite Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s polarizing views and deep ties to conspiracy-driven wellness culture, his platform unexpectedly shines a light on urgent issues in America’s food and health systems.

His calls to remove ultra-processed foods from schools and crack down on industry influence echo long-standing concerns about corporate control over public health. But his more fringe positions—on fluoride, raw milk, and vaccines—raise serious questions about how science-based his solutions would actually be.

Still, his nomination presents a rare chance to confront the failures of our food system. The bigger question is whether meaningful change is even possible.

Can America finally prioritize public health over industry profits? And when it matters most, will RFK Jr. have Trump’s support to challenge Big Food’s influence over policy?

We’ll be following closely. What do you think?

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