Ultraprocessed foods now make up half of the average American’s diet, contributing significantly to rising obesity and malnutrition across the country, according to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy argues that many Americans are unaware of the health risks associated with their food choices, largely due to a 67-year-old government exemption that permits ingredients classified as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) to bypass rigorous safety evaluations.
Kennedy posits that the current iteration of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is unable to accurately tally the number of ingredients present in food products, with estimates suggesting a range of 4,000 to 10,000. He emphasizes that such a lack of transparency makes it nearly impossible for consumers to ascertain the safety of ultraprocessed items.
The GRAS exemption, established by Congress in 1958, enables companies to self-validate the safety of their ingredients in the absence of government oversight, as long as those ingredients are deemed safe by experts. Kennedy has criticized this loophole, claiming it has been exploited by the food industry to inundate the market with ultraprocessed options containing un-reviewed components.
The Consumer Brands Association, a major food industry trade group, defends the GRAS process, asserting that it allows for innovation in response to consumer demand and that food companies comply with the FDA’s science-based evaluations.
Food author Michael Pollan connects the prevalence of ultraprocessed foods to longstanding federal farm subsidies, particularly those directed toward corn and soybean farmers. Pollan notes that these subsidies have inadvertently led to a food system geared towards cheap, processed commodities rather than nutritious options, stating, “Cheap food is the goal of all governments.”
Concerns regarding the health impacts of ultraprocessed foods are echoed by former FDA head Dr. David Kessler, who suggests that these products, which are energy-dense and engineered for palatability, have changed human metabolism and increased the prevalence of chronic diseases. Kessler cites ultraprocessed foods as significant contributors to health issues such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. He warns that these foods trigger brain reward systems that promote overeating, resulting in harmful fat accumulation.
In a recent development, Kennedy issued new dietary guidelines that advise against the consumption of highly processed foods, attributing America’s obesity crisis to a lack of nutritional value in what many are eating. He argues that societal changes, rather than personal failures, are to blame for the food-related health crisis affecting 70% of Americans.
Kennedy is committed to enhancing the accessibility of whole foods and acknowledges the need for reform regarding the GRAS exemption. Kessler, known for his role in addressing the tobacco crisis, believes that ultraprocessed foods could represent an even greater public health challenge and advocates for a revised public perception of these products.
In pursuit of accountability, Kessler is urging Kennedy to retract the GRAS classification for numerous processed carbohydrates unless their safety can be substantiated. Kennedy has pledged to utilize rigorous scientific standards for reviewing GRAS ingredients and is ready to confront the entrenched interests of big agriculture and the food industry.
Additionally, ten ultraprocessed food manufacturers are facing a lawsuit alleging that they knowingly created and marketed addictive products while concealing associated risks. The Consumer Brands Association has refrained from commenting on the lawsuit but maintains that there is no universally accepted definition of ultraprocessed foods, asserting that companies adhere to stringent FDA standards for safety and nutrition.
