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By Mandy Taheri
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Ultra-processed foods packed with dyes and synthetic chemicals are contributing to a growing health crisis among children, according to the "Make America Healthy Again" Commission report released Thursday.
In it, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls for transforming the U.S. food system to emphasize whole foods and reassess nutritional regulations.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in February establishing the Make America Healthy Again Commission, which pledged to produce a report within the president's first few months back in office.
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The report states that consumption of ultra-processed foods "has gone up at an exponential rate as share of the American diet." Kennedy, who has repeatedly warned of a chronic disease epidemic in the United States, earlier this year described products from companies like Kellogg's and McDonald's as "mass poison to children."
In April, the Food and Drug Administration announced it is working to phase out eight synthetic food dyes by 2026. The dyes do not offer nutritional value, and some, like Kennedy, argue they pose health risks.
Over 40 percent of American adults are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and around 20 percent of children and teens. Obesity is a health condition that increases the risk of certain conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and more.
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What To Know
The first section of the report focuses on the rise of ultra-processed foods, attributing their dominance to post-World War II advances in mechanization, industrial farming, synthetic fertilizers and shelf-stable processing. It states that nearly 70 percent of the average American child's calories now come from ultra-processed foods.
The report specifically highlights food colorings, like Red 40, as being associated with behavioral issues in children, including hyperactivity. It continues that "preliminary evidence" suggests a link "between the consumption of food colorings and autism, although further long-term research is necessary to establish a definitive link."
It also suggests that titanium dioxide, which is used in many candies and sauces, could potentially cause cell and DNA damage.
Kennedy urges Americans to adopt "diets centered on whole foods."
The report argues that the "greatest step the United States can take to reverse childhood chronic disease is to put whole foods produced by American farmers and ranchers at the center of healthcare."
It broadly suggests partnering with farmers, redirecting incentives toward whole foods, and reevaluating regulations, however, it does not provide specific implementation details.
What People Are Saying
Miranda Yaver, an assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh, told Newsweek: "There's a great deal of inconsistency across the Trump Administration positions. We'd all like to see people eat more healthily. The question is, how do we get to that point?
"While RFK Jr. bemoans processed foods, we aren't seeing ways to address the underlying problem of food deserts (which about 19 million Americans live in) and food insecurity, the latter of which will only be exacerbated by the SNAP cuts for which the House Republicans just voted. RFK Jr. has called for healthier school lunches, but the administration made cuts to that very program."
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said at a news conference in April: "The FDA will establish a standard and timeline for industry to switch to natural alternatives, revoke authorization for dyes not in production within coming weeks and take steps to remove remaining dyes on the market."
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said at the same April news conference: "Food dye is just a no-brainer. Nobody wants to eat petroleum. Everybody knows there's enough science out there that we know it's terrible for you. It causes health problems but also behavioral problems."
What Happens Next
The report pledges to support "gold-standard scientific research." Kennedy pushed the NIH "to fund long-term trials comparing whole-food, reduced-carb, and low-UPF diets in children to assess effects on obesity and insulin resistance."
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