338. Food Shift: America's Changing Menu

Introduction

0:00Hi, everybody. Cheryl Ackeson here. Welcome to another edition of the Cheryl Ackeson podcast.

0:13In today's podcast, America's food shift under RFK Jr. from grocery shelves to fast food venues, what's changing and what's not yet. Ever since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became Secretary of Health and Human Services in early 2025, the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, agenda has put America's food system under a microscope. The focus is on ultra-processed foods, artificial

0:43additives, seed oils, excess sugar, and other contributors to chronic disease. Ever since Kennedy's been at the helm, I've been reading and hearing about this or that, some piecemeal changes, proposals, and I wanted to find out what really has happened so far and where we are in a lot of this transformation of our food supply and what's yet to come. Recent

Shift to Healthier Eating

1:07polls show a clear shift toward healthier eating habits among Americans. That's good news. According to one survey that was in 2025, more people, 57%, followed a specific diet or eating pattern in the past year, up from 36% in 2018. So from 36% to 57% following a specific eating pattern intended for health. High-protein diets lead the way. People are saying that they're on a high-protein

1:39diet 23% of the time, up from 4% in 2018. So high-protein's a big trend. And even among people who aren't on a specific high-protein diet, 70% of Americans say that they're trying to actively eat more protein and more fiber while defining healthy food by traits like fresh, low in sugar. They're looking at minimal processing and limited artificial ingredients. People are also, according to polls,

2:12rating their own diets healthier today than in 2020, and they're looking for benefits like more energy. Maybe dramatic overnight bans that some people were hoping for on some products and additives haven't materialized, but there are some noticeable changes on store shelves, in our school cafeterias, and even at some restaurants, mostly through voluntary industry moves rather than strict mandates. And today in the podcast, we're going to talk about why that is. Some Americans do wonder why RFK Jr. didn't immediately institute wholesale changes, the things that

2:47he talked about that shouldn't be in our supply, the things that needed to be done. Well, that's not so easy. Mandatory changes require formal FDA rulemaking, along with public comment periods, scientific reviews, and sometimes, after all of that, congressional approval. Frequently, this kind of rulemaking or mandatory changes can face expensive and protracted lawsuits and other legal challenges from the industries that end up miring the proposals in endless delays in

3:19bureaucracy. That's kind of been the plan on the part of industry for some time in some respects. They know that they can wrap things up in this bureaucracy and courts and lawsuits and delay and make the cost so expensive it doesn't make sense for the government to try to do some of these mandatory changes. There are also practical reasons that changes aren't coming overnight. For example, reformulating a single product, let's say something has to come out of it, that can cost a company millions of

3:50dollars and scaling it nationally can take a long time when you're talking about now they have to source their ingredients differently, they have to conduct testing maybe, update their labels, and even retool their factories. So voluntary changes, as opposed to mandatory, they happen when companies choose to reformulate their products in response to the public pressure or perhaps meetings with HHS leaders or fear of future rules and state laws. Sometimes when the industry sees the writing on the wall,

4:24they go ahead and make their own changes because they can call some of the shots better when they know it's coming if they say, hey, we'll do it on our own and here's our proposed timetable and the way we're going to do it. Voluntary changes can happen faster because they avoid those lengthy legal processes and avoid the court challenges. RFK Jr.'s approach so far is leaning heavily on jawboning, high profile meetings, he makes public calls, and he institutes partnerships all to try to encourage that voluntary compliance

4:57while laying the groundwork for some targeted rules. And analysts say this has produced some quick wins, wins that maybe top-down mandates alone would not be able to achieve, and we're going to go over some of

Artificial Food Dyes

5:10those. Perhaps the most visible change to date involves synthetic food dyes. Artificial food dyes like red 40, yellow 5, and blue 1 are, believe it or not, made from petroleum, the same stuff used to make gasoline. I've done a couple of stories on my TV show Full Measure about this, the origin and the side effects and problems with artificial food dyes. They are commonly added to candy, cereal, sodas, and snacks to make them look brighter, more fun, more appealing to kids, but they give zero nutrition.

5:45And what's worse, these dyes can negatively impact human brains and bodies. In some kids, these artificial food dyes trigger hyperactivity, trouble focusing, irritability, and even can worsen ADHD symptoms, sometimes if they eat just a small amount. Studies have shown that red 40 can damage DNA, it can cause gut inflammation, and it can throw off your microbiome, at least that's according to animal tests. Some dyes contain cancer-linked chemicals or cause allergic reactions like hives and breathing

6:22issues, which is why California banned some of them in school foods, Europe slaps warning labels on them, and now finally the FDA is pushing to phase them out completely here in America by 2027. In April of last year, the HHS and FDA announced phasing out of these dyes from our food supply, red dye number three used in candies, cakes, and some medicine. Manufacturers have until January 27 for food

6:52or 2028 for drugs to reformulate. This was advanced under the prior administration originally, but was taken a long time and accelerated under President Trump and Secretary Kennedy. Six major dyes are also being phased out, including the ubiquitous red dye number 40, yellows five and six, blues one and two, and green three. The industry is working to voluntarily eliminate all of them by the end of 2026 this year, or 2027. Two of the big players, Campbells and Nestle,

7:27pledged full compliance by the end of 2026, and others like Kraft Heinz aimed for 2027. And then two dyes that are now pretty rarely used already, citrus red number two and orange bee, face actual bans very soon. So the status on shelves today, if you go to the store, many cereal, snacks, candy, sodas, and baked goods still contain these dyes that pretty much everybody agrees shouldn't be in our food now. But reformulated natural color versions are

7:59starting to be seen. The natural color versions use things like beet and turmeric, and about 40 percent of the packaged food supply has now publicly committed to removal. So once this change starts happening, people and consumers come to know more about it and perhaps start voting with their pocketbook. Even if the food supply hasn't completely changed, maybe those who have refused to come along will start to see that their products aren't selling as well. And maybe they'll get on the bandwagon too.

Unhealthy Preservatives

8:33Another category I did a little research about has to do with unhealthy preservatives. The FDA and HHS are also reviewing and reducing these questionable preservatives and additives. Earlier this year, they launched a major review of BHA, I'll try to pronounce what that stands for, butylated hydroxynosol, a common preservative found in cereal, snacks, and meats that's been flagged as a possible cancer risk. I remember reading the cereal boxes when I was growing up and getting

9:07to the part they always said BHA and BHT added for freshness. And then maybe about 20 years ago, I started joking with my siblings that what if we find out BHA and BHT added for freshness is actually bad for us, considering all these chronic diseases we're suffering. And it turns out, yep, it might be. BHA is used because it acts like a shield for fats and oils, preventing them from going rancid in packaged foods. So the manufacturers can make their food last longer, make more money,

9:41keep them on the shelves. It's in, as I mentioned, breakfast cereal, cookies, frozen meals, potato chips, candy ice cream, and processed meat. The problem is animal studies have linked high doses of BHA to cancer, and the National Toxicology Program lists BHA as, quote, reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Then there's BHT, I mentioned just a minute ago, butylated hydroxytoluene. It's a close

10:13cousin of BHA, another antioxidant preservative that keeps fats fresh in similar products, cereals, frozen pizza, baking mixes, chewing gum, and meats. The FDA is reviewing BHT too, following the same science-based process. You'd like to think once something is labeled or thought to believe a possible cancer-causing agent, that we could and would and should err on the side of safety. Why take a chance? Why not say that can't be in food? But as I'm describing today, it's not so easy under our

10:47processes. These companies have a right to put these products in their food until and unless certain processes are followed and even court cases. So that's why the FDA is doing a science-based process to get evidence to support the move that it recommends or eventually perhaps mandates. The government's also reviewing other additives like propyliparabine and working with food companies on making voluntary changes. Propyliparabine is a synthetic preservative used to stop mold and

11:23bacteria from growing in foods. You'll find it in tortillas, baked goods, snack sauces, and some beverages. But there are concerns about hormone disruption and possible reproductive effects. Again, these are huge concerns. You know that as a society, we have all kinds of endocrine or hormone disruption happening in our youth. Not just young people, but I think we can see it so obviously in our youth with boys looking and feeling like girls, girls saying they're looking and feeling like boys in

11:55some cases. And then not even having to do with gender, but disruptions in the metabolic process, the way we metabolize our food into energy with people growing obese in ways that just didn't happen so many years ago. And yes, some of that can be explained by changing habits and activity levels, but not all of it. And most scientists who study this think that the things in our food and medicine have transformed our metabolisms and our bodies in ways that's impacting all the things

12:27we're seeing. These preservatives have been used for decades and the current reviews signal a big shift. The government's not giving them a free pass anymore, at least under the current administration, and is actively working to phase out the things that don't meet today's stricter safety standards or expectations. We'll continue after a short break by looking at sugar and what's on the horizon when

Sugar Reduction Efforts

12:51it comes to tackling excess sugar in our diets. The feds are also ramping up efforts to tackle excessive sugar and artificial sweeteners in the food supply. The FDA is planning to soon roll out a comprehensive added sugar reduction strategy that encourages food companies to lower sugar levels in processed and prepared foods. And it's also proposing a new low added sugar nutrient claim

13:22and explores better labeling for sugar alternatives that don't spike blood glucose. So some of these sugar substitutes that people have been relying on for years, it turns out, spike your blood glucose or your sugar levels in your blood, just like sugar does. So obviously there's a benefit if you can find an alternative that doesn't do that. This aims to fight the rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease by making healthier options clearer and more available. On artificial sweeteners like

13:53aspartame, sucralose, and others, the FDA continues to monitor safety while assessing their roles as sugar replacements, evaluating how these non-nutritive sweeteners are used, their long-term effects, and whether clearer labeling or education is needed so that consumers aren't just swapping one problem for another. Overall, like with the other efforts, the push here is toward voluntary industry reform, consumer education, and smarter rules that prioritize real reductions in added sugars without unintended

14:28consequences from substitutes to help Americans eat less ultra-processed junk and more wholesome foods. So on the broader diet and food supply changes, there are already some noticeable differences on America's grocery shelves when you're shopping. There are more clean label products with fewer additives. Companies are tweaking their recipes ahead of potential rules that they're afraid are coming if they don't go ahead and change the recipes themselves, especially when they've already reformulated them in other countries like in Europe, which required changes earlier. So some of

15:04these companies can make changes pretty quickly and are probably surprised we didn't force them sooner because they made them years ago for health reasons in other countries. There are new dietary guidelines for Americans from 2025 to 2030 influenced by the Maha movement. They emphasize more protein, whole grains, and limits on ultra-processed foods and sugar. They highlight the benefits of whole milk, beef tallow, butter and olive oil over seed oils in some contexts, and then their efforts to tighten the

15:41generally recognized as safe process. It's sort of a loophole. And RFK Jr. has directed the FDA to explore ending this self-affirmed, generally recognized as safe process loophole. It lets companies introduce new ingredients without really notifying the FDA of going through special processes to prove that these things are safe. And this aims to increase transparency for future additives. Besides your grocery shelves, even America's bastion of unhealthy fast food is already making some

16:16shifts. Some chains like Steak and Shake and Sweet Green pledge to phase out seed oils in favor of tallow or better alternatives, responding to RFK's criticism of the 1990 switches from beef tallow to other kinds of fats. More places are starting to carry Coca-Cola's cane sugar version in the U.S. cane sugar is believed to be less problematic than high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners. So you can look at the label and see that there's sugar. People sometimes would buy Mexican Coke or what

16:52they call Mexican Coke. Coke from Mexico where they have always apparently been using the cane sugar and didn't make the switch. And hospitals are also pledging to transition to less ultra-processed fare. If you're like me and you've ever had to be with someone you care about in the hospital and you see what they feed the patients, you kind of wonder they're here because they're sick and you're feeding them a lot of bad food in many cases makes no sense. As I mentioned when we started the process of mandating a ban or forcing

17:25a reformulation can be very difficult and here's what the process may take if you try to go about that way. Number one the evidence has to be gathered by the FDA and the FDA has to propose a rule based on the evidence in the record so far. And you know sometimes since most studies are funded by the industry and not done independently it's hard to find a lot of studies and evidence on one side, the safety side. There's more evidence or at least so-called studies showing something isn't a problem sponsored

17:58by the industry itself. And there are always questions as to how independent and honest those studies are but that's what proliferates. So the FDA has to get its own evidence and propose a rule. Then there's a mandatory public comment period that lasts some months, maybe even longer. Then the agency conducts a review of economic impacts, supply chains, and alternatives. Then a final rule is issued by the FDA.

18:28There could be legal challenges from the industry that can take months or years and then when all of that is over compliance deadlines are given for a future date, sometimes one year down the road or five years down the road after the rest of the stuff is done. So what's on the horizon? Full artificial food dye phase outs should happen, many by the end of this year and some next year. And since some other countries have already banned these dyes, many impacted companies already have reformulations ready to go

19:01in the US. Simplified front of PAC labeling is under discussion, you know, changing the labeling from the things that you see on the back and the categories they have to report to something else that's simpler and seen on the front. The administration is seeking to simplify disclosures, make them more visible. That might face legal challenges. Many states, and I've reported this on full measure as well, many states are moving forward on their own with rules to try to make the food supply safer. Some

19:34states can act more quickly than the process that I've described and they're doing so on their own in the case of artificial food dyes, what's allowed in school lunches, and other categories. West Virginia became the first state last year to pass a strong statewide ban on seven synthetic dyes including red 40, yellow 5, and blue 1, plus some preservatives. The rules kick in for all foods sold in West Virginia by January 2028. California was an early leader in all of this, banning artificial dyes in school foods

20:09and drinks that will take effect starting next year, 2027. Other states like Texas and Louisiana are requiring warning labels on foods with those dyes and more than 20 states have introduced similar bills in the past year showing a growing movement to work to try to protect kids while the FDA works on a national phase out. These state actions are pushing companies to switch to natural colors faster because if the companies have to do it state by state and they know it may be coming on the national

20:43level why not just change their product across the board. RFK Jr.'s HHS has definitely sparked a real movement especially on dyes without really massive disruption in industry. Grocery aisles and kids cereals are slowly getting cleaner colors and labels and some restaurants are even experimenting with healthier frying fats. Progress however is uneven mostly voluntary so far reflecting the practical limits of government power over a vast complex food industry this coming year will test whether the jaw boning I

21:21described sustains momentum or if stronger rules become necessary to try. For consumers the message is clear read your labels choices are expanding but the full Maha overhaul is still a work in progress though the conversation about what we eat has never been louder. If you'd like to see this discussion in print I will be posting it on my free sub stack at cherylackison.substack.com maybe that's the easiest

21:52way for you to share it with your friends or refer to it if you want to go over it in more detail.

22:00I hope you enjoyed today's podcast and that if you did you will consider sharing it with your friends subscribing and leaving a terrific review. Also check out my other podcast full measure after hours. There are a couple of ways you can support important independent journalism. Number one you can pick up a copy of my latest national bestseller follow the science how big pharma misleads obscures and prevails. Proceeds support independent reporting causes. Same with proceeds from the Cheryl

22:31Atkinson store you can go to Cheryl Atkinson.com and click the store tab to find some unique items for independent thinkers like you with slogans such as I need to find some new conspiracy theories all my old ones came true and do your own research make up your own mind think for yourself