Happy Friday, and welcome to Food Fix. The White House just released its fiscal 2027 budget, which contains several proposals to fund MAHA priorities. Find the docs here and here.
New pod alert: For all you American Dish listeners: We’ve got a new episode this week! It’s all about infant formula (and why everyone should care about it, not just moms) with Mallory Whitmore AKA The Formula Mom who has a new book out called Bottle Service. Follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
Stay in the loop: The best way to make sure you don’t miss a beat in the food policy world is to upgrade to a paid subscription and get Food Fix in your inbox twice per week. Almost everyone who upgrades finds it valuable.
As always, I truly welcome your feedback. Send me your thoughts by replying to this email, or drop me a line: helena@foodfix.co.
Alright, let’s get to it –
Helena
***
EPA calls for more focus on microplastics in water
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Thursday unveiled a major effort to take a harder look at microplastics and pharmaceuticals present in drinking water.
What’s new: There’s really two pieces of news here. First, EPA is for the first time including microplastics as a “priority contaminant group” in a draft version of what’s known as the candidate contaminant list, or the CCL — an EPA list that gets updated every five years. This is basically the very first step toward potentially regulating something in drinking water in the future. The EPA also flagged pharmaceuticals broadly as a priority for the first time.
Second, HHS announced that its Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health — known as ARPA-H — is launching a $144 million initiative to help study and potentially curb microplastics and nanoplastics (even smaller bits!) in the human body. The new program goes by STOMP, which stands for Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics (Washington loves acronyms, OK!).
The Trump administration and its allies hailed these moves as a major MAHA win — a notable first for EPA, which continues to infuriate MAHA supporters with its industry-friendly rollbacks on everything from mercury pollution to PFAS and pesticides. Critics were quick to call this performative BS: Really, the EPA gutting regulations on every other front is going to crack down on microplastics? Be so for real.
A sensible, modest step: So what does this all amount to? The water policy nerds I consulted about this are cautiously optimistic. To be clear, these moves do not do anything to crack down on microplastics — any suggestion that they do is demonstrably false — but they could help lay the groundwork for an eventual crack down.
Why does this matter? Well, microplastics are everywhere now. In our oceans and rivers. In our food and water and air. We’re eating them. We’re inhaling them. We’re drinking them.
Watching the press event HHS and EPA held Thursday was a bit shocking, even for me, and I am pretty aware of the issue of microplastics. A panel of several top experts raised concern about how we’re now finding microplastics in virtually all our organ systems, including placentas. The closer scientists look, the more plastic they seem to find.
As leading microplastics researcher Marcus Eriksen put it during the event, when you zoom in and look at nanoplastics — think very small, like 1/100th of a strand of human hair — “there are more nanoplastics among us than there are grains of sands on the beach or stars in the sky combined. We’re really awash in these small particles.”
“They are among us,” he said. “They are abundant. But we need to really understand the data gap: How do we measure this? And then you have to understand the impact: What is it doing to our bodies?”
In short, there’s broad agreement that microplastics have contaminated our whole world, but there’s disagreement (and frankly a lack of research) about how much this is impacting our health. Early research has flagged concerns about cardiovascular risk, inflammation and metabolic disorders. Even without understanding the full impact, the scale of microplastics pollution certainly seems concerning.
Initial reax: I asked some outside researchers what they thought of the administration’s announcement, and I got mostly good vibes — though there’s definitely skepticism about whether the administration will ultimately follow through here (like keeping the scientific community focused on it, actually spending the $144 million, etc.).
“I was really pleased to hear that the federal government is wanting to focus on how microplastics accumulate in human bodies,” said Susanne Brander, a longtime microplastics researcher formerly with Oregon State University who now serves as project director of science at the Safer Chemicals Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts. Brander noted the agencies are looking not only at measuring exposure and potential harm, but also how to reduce exposure. “Those were all really encouraging things to hear, especially during a time when federal funding has been difficult to obtain.”
I also caught up with David Cwiertny, a water quality researcher at the University of Iowa, who is also encouraged by the news. He noted, however, that adding something to EPA’s CCL is the very beginning of a very long process that could ultimately result in regulation, but that’s a long way off.
“The steps they are taking here are logical,” Cwiertny told me. “I think investment is needed. It’s going to take a good amount of money to get a lot more information to understand: Where are we most at risk, what are the best ways to remove these from water? What types and what conditions do we need to be most concerned about? There is still a lot to figure out.”
What’s next: The EPA has put microplastics as a priority on the new draft CCL, which will be open for public comment for 60 days. If finalized, this will trigger more data collection from EPA. Ultimately, a standardized method of measuring microplastics in drinking water will need to be developed. Separately, ARPA-H is seeking research proposals for funding this spring and summer.
What to do now: We are many years away from having limits for microplastics in drinking water — most water systems aren’t even monitoring microplastics (unless you live in California). It’s not clear to me how much drinking water contributes to overall exposure. Research has shown, for example, that bottled water has higher rates of microplastics. (Tap water is regulated by EPA, but bottled water is regulated by FDA. Right now, FDA’s position is that microplastics don’t pose a health concern. If EPA set limits, however, FDA would ultimately follow them.)
Of course, none of this gets at all the other ways we’re currently exposed to microplastics. While scientists try to get to the bottom of all of this, there are things you can do to reduce your exposure: Cut your use of plastic in the kitchen (especially anything that’s being heated like tupperware, coffee makers, utensils). Cut back on synthetic textiles, and opt for natural fiber fabrics when you can (cotton, wool, etc.). Consider HEPA filters for vacuums and HVAC systems to cut down on microplastics in the air at home.
Bottom line: This newsletter focuses on food policy, not individual advice, but we are a long way from having a policy response to microplastics. If you’re concerned about them, you’re on your own for now.
***
What I’m reading
As Trump weighs appeal of vaccine ruling, Kennedy supporters push for fight (Reuters). “Supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are pressing for a fight for the U.S. vaccine overhaul their ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement helped create,” report Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas. “But two weeks after a court ruling halted key aspects of the vaccine revamp, the Trump administration has not taken any steps to appeal, a delay longer than for other cases where President Donald Trump has aggressively fought federal rulings challenging his agenda. Meanwhile, Republicans are busy strategizing how best to defend slim majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in November’s midterm elections, complicating the vaccine fight. The Trump administration is still weighing whether to appeal, according to four senior administration officials, as it works through which health issues are most voter friendly. The administration must balance the support of millions of Kennedy’s MAHA backers, who were already upset by Trump’s order to boost pesticide production, against low general public support for his vaccine agenda.”
Booker urges Supreme Court to allow Roundup cancer lawsuits to proceed (CBS News). “Democratic Sen. Cory Booker filed a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday backing cancer patients in a high-stakes case that could determine whether thousands of lawsuits over the weedkiller Roundup can proceed — and drawing a direct contrast with the Trump administration’s position,” reports Patrick Maguire. “The filing, known as an amicus brief, supports a plaintiff who alleges Monsanto failed to warn consumers about cancer risks tied to Roundup, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. If the court sides with Monsanto, it could significantly limit or block many of the lawsuits brought by people who say long-term exposure to Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. A ruling against the company would allow those cases to continue moving through state courts. Bayer, Monsanto’s parent company, has paid more than $10 billion to resolve earlier Roundup-related claims and is now pursuing a proposed $7.25 billion settlement to address additional cases.”
From MAHA to haha (The Economist). “A year ago the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) movement was on a tear. Robert F. Kennedy junior had been confirmed as health secretary just 24 days into Donald Trump’s second administration. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had announced a study on the link between vaccines and autism, and top vaccine regulators had been pushed out. No more. Both the White House and Congress seem to be growing tired of the MAHA agenda. Important health appointments sit open because of stalled Senate confirmations. Instead of the electoral advantage that many once hoped it was, some Republicans now worry that they are on the wrong side of a wedge issue. The clearest example of MAHA’s dwindling influence is in two prominent public-health vacancies. The CDC is currently without either a director or even an acting director, as the role has sat empty for so long. America is also without a surgeon-general.”
Nutrition is in and D.E.I. is out as medical schools bow to Kennedy (New York Times). “The accrediting agency for dozens of medical schools is stripping diversity standards from its curriculum requirements and adding a focus on nutrition that tracks with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s agenda,” reports Alan Blinder and Alice Callahan. “Academia has typically guarded its independence ferociously. But the decision by the accrediting agency, the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, shows how the Trump administration is shaping academic life across the country. The osteopathic commission, which accredits 46 schools serving more than a quarter of medical students in the United States, had previously said that a college ‘must incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion into its curriculum to the extent permitted by law.’ According to documents the commission recently published online, the group is substituting that provision with one that schools ‘ensure that comprehensive evidence-based nutrition education’ is part of their curriculums.”
Dinosaur chicken nuggets sold nationwide at Walmart may contain lead, federal alert warns (Fox Business). “If you have dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets in your freezer, federal officials say you may want to check the packaging,” reports Sophia Compton. “The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Wednesday issued a public health alert for certain frozen, ready-to-eat chicken nuggets that may contain ‘unsafe levels of lead.’ Although the product is no longer available in stores, officials warn it could still be in freezers across the country. The alert applies to 29-ounce bags of ‘Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets,’ sold at Walmart nationwide.”
Frozen veggies suspected source of US Listeria outbreak (eFoodAlert). “Frozen vegetables grown and processed in Egypt may be linked to a mysterious outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections that erupted in three stages in 2024 and 2025,” reports Phyllis Entis. “According to information obtained by eFoodAlert from the FDA in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the outbreak was first investigated by the CDC in April 2024 without success. The investigation was reopened in August 2024 when additional cases appeared on the CDC’s radar screen. Again, the investigation was closed without a possible source having been determined. In June 2025, the CDC reopened the investigation once more after an additional five cases attributed to the same outbreak strain were found.”
How a sapling and a viral candy made California the world’s pistachio king (New York Times). “Twenty years ago, California farmers bet big on the pistachio. The little green nut was considered niche in the United States, but it was a staple in Iran and the surrounding region,” write Julie Creswell and Jacqueline Gu. “That gamble has paid off. Demand for pistachios is high as wellness trends draw people to high-fiber, protein-rich foods. They are also a key ingredient of Dubai chocolate, the incredibly popular chocolate bar filled with pistachio cream and kataifi, or shredded phyllo. The United States is now the world’s largest producer and exporter of pistachios. Iran is second. Yet more than a month into the war with Iran, ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is at historically low levels, which has stymied exports from the region. The potential removal of a major player in the market is good news for farmers in California, who are likely to get higher prices for their pistachios. But there is one thing standing between the farmers and those projections: California’s water regulations, which people in the industry said may restrict the ability of some orchards to expand.”
***
Why you should upgrade to a paid Food Fix subscription
Become a paid subscriber to unlock access to two newsletters each week, packed with insight, analysis and exclusive reporting on what’s happening in food, in Washington and beyond. You’ll also get full access to the Food Fix archive — a great way to get smart on all things food policy.
Expense it: Most paid subscribers expense their subscriptions through work. It’s worth asking!
Discounts: We also offer discounts for government, academia and students. See our subscription options. Individuals who participate in SNAP or other federal nutrition programs qualify for a free Food Fix subscription — just email info@foodfix.co.
Get the Friday newsletter: If someone forwarded you this email, sign yourself up for the free Friday edition of Food Fix. You can also follow Food Fix on X, Bluesky and LinkedIn.
See you next week!
