A recent report from the Trump administration has highlighted chemicals in ultraprocessed ingredients and the environment as major contributors to the rise in chronic diseases. This could potentially lead to changes in how certain foods are regulated.
The report, released by a presidential commission known as “Make America Healthy Again,” suggests that exposure to food additives and other chemicals can lead to various childhood developmental issues and chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. The commission is expected to make policy recommendations based on the report in August, aiming for a comprehensive transformation of the food, health, and scientific systems.
The report emphasizes the need for regulators to consider how multiple additives or chemicals in processed foods may interact and pose health risks. It points out that consuming processed foods in complex combinations could have significant impacts on children’s health due to potentially overlooked risks.
Although the report calls for a national initiative to study gene-environment interactions, it does not propose specific policies. However, experts believe that the report’s language could increase pressure for more transparency and disclosure requirements.
According to law firm Sidley, the report represents a shift towards evaluating cumulative exposures to multiple chemicals rather than assessing risks from single chemical exposures.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who heads the MAHA commission, has been vocal about the harmful effects of ultraprocessed ingredients on American children. He has criticized sugars and saturated fats and urged the food industry to move away from artificial colors by 2027.
The report mirrors Kennedy’s concerns about food ingredients, highlighting the negative impact of ultraprocessed foods on children’s health. It specifically mentions ultraprocessed grains, sugars, and fats as detrimental, as well as several food additives of concern, including artificial sweeteners, titanium dioxide, propylparaben, and BHT.
While food companies maintain that additives and ingredients are safe for consumption, some are responding to regulatory and consumer pressure by transitioning to less-processed ingredients. Mars, for example, removed titanium dioxide from its candies following Kennedy’s criticism, and PepsiCo is accelerating efforts to shift towards natural ingredients.
However, a widespread shift away from ultraprocessed foods poses challenges for manufacturers, as these ingredients are prevalent in consumer food products. Food scientist Paul Dawson emphasizes that reversing overconsumption of these foods will require structural changes in how food is produced, distributed, and consumed in the U.S.
Source: White House Report