The following is an op-ed by Sean McBride, He is the founder of DSM Strategic Communications and the former Executive Vice President of Communications and Membership at the Grocery Manufacturers Association (now Consumer Brands Association).
The food policy landscape in Washington, D.C., has been relatively stable for years. Traditionally, Democrats have leaned towards increased government involvement in food production, while Republicans have favored less intervention. Advocates on both sides of the aisle have known which policymakers to approach to support, oppose, or modify legislation and regulations.
However, the status quo may be on the verge of change with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s (RFK) anticipated role in the Trump 47 Administration under the banner of “Make America Healthy Again.”
President-elect Donald Trump has shown a clear aversion to government interference in the free market. During his previous term, he spearheaded an initiative to eliminate two existing government regulations for every new one proposed by federal agencies. This time around, he has pledged to cut ten regulations for each new one introduced.
Trump’s pro-market, anti-regulation stance has been welcomed by many regulated entities, including those in the food and agriculture sector. Throughout Trump’s tenure, the industry largely received favorable outcomes on food policy from the White House.
The USDA, for instance, aligned with industry interests when it established the Bioengineered Food labeling regime in 2018. Additionally, Trump’s administration relaxed school nutrition standards as requested by schools and food service providers.
Conversely, in 2021, the tide began to turn. President Biden’s administration has taken a proactive approach, introducing stringent regulations aimed at altering food company practices, packaging, and sales.
Biden’s FDA and USDA have been actively pushing new regulations on various fronts, including food safety, school lunches, nutrition labeling, sodium levels, and food chemicals.
With Kennedy’s potential appointment, the longstanding paradigm of food policy could face a challenge. Kennedy has expressed a desire to rid food of toxins, leading to speculation about potential interventions in FDA’s food chemicals review process and advocacy for stricter regulations.
Furthermore, Kennedy has advocated for measures such as swapping tallow fat for seed oils in fast food items like McDonald’s french fries and limiting access to soda and processed foods in school lunches and nutrition assistance programs.
It is worth noting that Kennedy’s views on food policy have garnered support from some Republicans, indicating a potential shift in the traditional left-right divide on the issue.
If the Trump 47 Administration adopts a more regulatory approach akin to NGOs and activist groups, it could pose challenges for food production organizations seeking relief from burdensome regulations.
As these developments unfold, organizations in the food industry will need to closely monitor agencies like the CDC, FDA, USDA, and EPA to gauge the future of various food policy initiatives initiated during the Obama and Biden administrations under President Trump 47.