In a move to combat the growing momentum of U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy’s campaign against ultraprocessed foods and artificial dyes in various states, major food and beverage companies such as Coca-Cola, Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and Nestlé have joined forces to form a lobbying alliance. This alliance, known as Americans for Ingredient Transparency, aims to push for a national standard and halt the proliferation of state laws targeting artificial dyes and ultraprocessed foods.
The group argues that the current patchwork of state laws leads to consumer confusion, limits choices, increases grocery costs, and negatively impacts small businesses. By advocating for a clear national ingredient and labeling law, Americans for Ingredient Transparency seeks to streamline regulations and provide consistency across the industry.
Backed by industry trade groups like the Consumer Brands Association, American Beverage, the American Frozen Foods Institute, and FMI – The Food Industry Association, Americans for Ingredient Transparency is gaining support in its efforts to establish a national standard for ingredients and labeling.
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement has garnered bipartisan support in states, with lawmakers across party lines introducing legislation to restrict ultraprocessed foods in schools and ban certain additives. With 35 states introducing 93 bills related to food additives this legislative session, the movement is making significant strides towards reshaping the U.S. food supply.
As states enact laws such as West Virginia’s ban on foods with artificial dyes and Texas’s requirement for warning labels on products with certain additives, the food and beverage industry is raising concerns about the potential impact on their businesses. In response, Americans for Ingredient Transparency is advocating for a uniform regulatory approach for new ingredients, a front-of-package nutrition labeling system, and the inclusion of QR codes on food packaging for easy access to ingredient information.
Despite the lobbying group’s efforts, consumer advocacy groups and supporters of the MAHA movement have criticized Americans for Ingredient Transparency for attempting to undermine state laws that protect consumers from harmful chemical ingredients in food. Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at Consumer Reports, expressed disappointment in the industry’s focus on lobbying and advertising instead of addressing toxic ingredients in their products.