The Announcement
In an announcement that blended science, some politics, and nostalgia for a healthier America, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a sweeping new initiative aimed at banning synthetic food dyes and cleaning up the nation’s food supply. Speaking before a backdrop of medical experts and policy leaders, Kennedy painted a grim portrait of modern America—one plagued by chronic disease, plummeting fertility, and skyrocketing childhood disorders—and laid the blame squarely at the feet of the processed food and pharmaceutical industries.
A Sick Nation in Decline
Kennedy began by invoking the legacy of his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, who launched the Presidential Council on Physical Fitness during an era when only 3% of American children suffered from chronic disease, he said. Today, Kennedy noted, that figure has ballooned to around 60%. The list of ailments now common in children—ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, speech delays, juvenile diabetes, autoimmune disorders—was, in his youth, practically nonexistent.
He slammed the food and pharmaceutical industries for profiting off this health decline, accusing them of pushing harmful products into the marketplace while media outlets, propped up by advertising dollars, remain silent. “We are spending as much on treating diseases like diabetes as we do on our military,” Kennedy warned. “We cannot continue to exist like this.”
The Food Dye Crackdown
At the heart of the initiative is a move to eliminate petroleum-based synthetic dyes—chemicals linked to a range of health disorders. “If someone wants to eat petroleum, let them add it at home,” Kennedy quipped to the amusement of the crowd. The administration is already working with major food companies in what he called a “mutual understanding” to voluntarily phase out harmful dyes. Though no formal settlement exists yet, Kennedy stressed that companies are cooperating, in part to avoid the chaos of a patchwork of state-level bans.
The bans, spearheaded by moms and supported by states like Virginia, West Virginia, and Arizona, have provided key leverage to force the industry to the table. Kennedy emphasized that this is just the beginning. “We’re going to go ingredient-by-ingredient and get them out of school food and off shelves wherever we can.”
Kennedy also pledged to restore public trust by launching an open-source database cataloging food additives and their health impacts. Apps will be promoted to help consumers make informed choices. He admitted, however, that not all substances—like sugar—can be banned outright. “But Americans need to know it’s poison,” he said, citing skyrocketing diabetes rates and sugar’s addictive qualities.
To address gaps in the science, NIH is assembling research teams to evaluate both food and pharmaceutical additives. “We’re ending the era of science suppression,” Kennedy said, promising a flood of new grant opportunities and transparent data-sharing initiatives.
A Bipartisan Push for Labeling
Although the administration hasn’t yet presented legislation to Congress, Kennedy emphasized that food labeling reform is a top priority. He praised President Biden for his moves on banning Red Dye No. 3 a week before Kennedy became the head of the agency, and gave a shoutout to President Trump for understanding that health is foundational to American greatness. “A healthy person has a thousand dreams; a sick person only has one—to feel better,” Kennedy said.
The Road Ahead
Kennedy concluded with a rallying cry: “Now is not the time to stop. It’s time to redouble your efforts.” Promising dramatic change within two years, he committed to eliminating harmful exposures, beginning to solve the health crisis, and delivering a healthier, stronger nation overall.
Whether his ambitious plan becomes transformative policy or stumbles under last-minute industry pushback remains to be seen—but Kennedy made one thing clear: the era of unexamined ingredients is over.