Happy Friday, and welcome to Food Fix. I’m coming to you today from Martinsburg, West Virginia, which is about an hour and forty minutes northwest of DC, where RFK Jr. just held an event to tout a new MAHA initiative.
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Helena
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cheers West Virginia’s MAHA moves, urges states to ‘get in line’
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Here in a state that consistently ranks among the worst in the nation for health outcomes, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. today lauded a new local initiative in line with his “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda and urged more states to do the same.
Soda restrictions on tap: In a school gymnasium packed with children, supporters and presumably parents, Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced a new MAHA campaign following the state’s recent ban on synthetic food dyes and two food preservatives. The MAHA campaign includes exercise and healthy food initiatives, but the big news is that the state is seeking two major changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): stricter work requirements and a ban on soda.
Stiffening work requirements for SNAP beneficiaries is a longtime Republican goal, but it’s often criticized by Democrats and anti-hunger groups as a blunt tool to drop large numbers of vulnerable people from food aid. The governor did not give much detail on what the state has planned, but his office said it would implement “work, training, and education requirements for SNAP recipients.” “Outside of limited exceptions, if you have the ability to work, you should,” Morrisey said.
Bring on the patchwork: Kennedy, meanwhile, made it clear that he wants to see more states be aggressive in banning food additives and banning certain products from SNAP. He told the audience he recently met with food industry CEOs to talk about a path forward.
“They’re a little scared of me,” he said. “But they’re more scared of Gov. Morrisey. They said: ‘tell us what you want, we’re going to do it, but stop these governors from passing these laws, because we don’t want a patchwork where West Virginia and California are banning food dyes.’”
“They are terrified of this, of what you’re doing,” Kennedy added. “The message that I want to give to the country, to all the governors is: Get in line behind Gov. Morrisey.”
Kennedy then specifically urged states to submit more waivers to his agency, HHS. Wonky side note: I think he may have meant: Submit them to the Department of Agriculture, which has jurisdiction over SNAP. In any case, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has also been supportive of such waivers. Both cabinet officials issued statements today praising West Virginia.
“I look forward to receiving Governor Morrisey’s SNAP pilot request and will work swiftly to make certain West Virginia is equipped with the technical assistance and expertise to move forward,” Rollins said. “I thank him for being a true partner. Together, we will make America great and healthy again!”
State MAHA revolt: Kennedy’s visit to West Virginia comes as dozens of states are considering MAHA related bills, from food additive bans to SNAP restrictions, as well as some proposals to strip ultra-processed foods out of school meals. These state bills are coming primarily, but not exclusively, from Republicans. But when they are going before legislatures they are passing with broad, near universal bipartisan support — a measure of just how much the politics on all of these issues has changed in the past several months.
It wasn’t long ago that the food and beverage industry could easily crush these types of policy ideas in the states. Now, the industry is on a major losing streak. Republicans going MAHA means that industry groups have nowhere to turn politically.
In the gymnasium: Kennedy made clear today that he’s on a MAHA crusade, and he makes no apology for it. The mascot on the Catholic school gym wall, “the Crusaders,” was fitting for the occasion. The slogan “Make West Virginia Healthy” was projected high above the podium, right next to a Catholic cross.
During his remarks, Kennedy compared the food industry to Big Tobacco, railed against “fake food companies” and ran through many of the points he often makes on chronic disease — a litany of alarming statistics, concerns about rising health care costs and reduced life expectancy in the U.S. compared to other high-income countries — but he also tied personal health to patriotism, which struck me as a new argument.
“If you love this country, you need to start taking care of yourself,” Kennedy said to cheers. Gov. Morrisey, for his part, said during the event that he is embarking on a personal health journey and joked that he’d asked Kennedy to be his personal trainer.
Kennedy later said he would get the governor on a strict regimen, including a carnivore diet. (I think this was said tongue in cheek, but it was a little hard to tell.) The secretary also challenged Morrisey to monthly weigh-ins and said he would return to the state for a celebration when the governor lost 30 pounds.
What’s next: Food industry groups could sue to try to stop West Virginia’s ban on additives as well as a future ban on SNAP restrictions (if USDA approves this down the line, which sure seems like a safe bet). I asked the governor about this today, and he seemed confident that the state would ultimately prevail.
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What I’m reading
The Trump administration restructures federal health agencies, cuts 20,000 jobs (NPR). “The Trump administration Thursday announced a major restructuring of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that will cut 20,000 full-time jobs,” reports Selena Simmons-Duffin, Rob Stein, Pien Huang and Diane Webber. “The cuts include employees who have taken the Trump administration’s Fork in the Road offer and early retirement, plus an additional reduction in force of 10,000 jobs. It will take the HHS workforce from 82,000 to 62,000, according to a press release from the agency. The restructuring also includes a reorganization of HHS’s many divisions to reduce them from 28 to 15. The restructuring will include the creation of a new Administration for a Healthy America, or AHA, intended to ‘more efficiently coordinate chronic care and disease prevention programs.’ It will consolidate several existing agencies, with a focus on primary care, maternal and child health, mental health and HIV/AIDS. The cuts include 3,500 full-time employees at the FDA, 2,400 at the CDC, 1,200 at NIH, and 300 at CMS, according to an HHS fact sheet. It states that the new job cuts at the FDA will not affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers or inspectors. The reorganization will not impact Medicare or Medicaid. HHS states that the job cuts will save $1.8 billion. The agency currently has a budget of nearly $2 trillion, the majority of which pays for benefits for Americans covered by Medicaid and Medicare.”
Axed once, USDA employees anxiously await potentially being fired again (Investigate Midwest). “Following judges’ orders, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has begun reinstating employees who were fired en masse in February. But now, many of those workers who are being paid not to perform any duties fear that another shoe will drop,” writes Sky Chadde. “Judges have ruled the mass terminations were unlawful, but the administration is moving forward with plans to reduce headcount at agencies across the federal government. The roughly 6,000 USDA employees fired in February worked on a range of issues that keep America’s food system secure, from battling invasive crop diseases to funding the construction of sewer systems in rural areas. On Feb. 13, the USDA began firing employees who were on probation, meaning they had less than a year, or in some cases, less than three years, of experience. Soon after, an anonymous worker filed a complaint with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which adjudicates federal employment disputes. On March 5, the board issued a 45-day stay and ordered probationary employees return to work. As the end of the 45-day stay draws near, USDA employees worry they could be fired again and are exploring other options, according to interviews with several employees who requested anonymity to protect their career prospects. This month, calls went out to probationary employees asking them if they wanted their jobs back. They could return to work as soon as late March or early April. With that timeline, likely thousands of USDA employees could receive paychecks for six weeks or more for not actually performing their duties.”
McCormick reformulating more products as efforts to ban synthetic food dyes intensifies (Food Dive). “McCormick & Co. is working with restaurants and food manufacturers to reformulate products as efforts to ban synthetic dyes in food gain momentum, the ingredient and flavorings giant’s CEO told analysts,” writes Christopher Doering. “The move to remove artificial food colors has been simmering for years, but the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services has brought renewed attention to the effort. ‘We are seeing a tick-up in reformulation activity and that would align with what you’re seeing and being written out in the news media regarding what we’re hearing from the new administration,’ said Brendan Foley, McCormick’s CEO. McCormick’s portfolio of spices, baking ingredients and other offerings sold to consumers don’t contain a lot of food dyes, Foley said. Kennedy has called on Kraft Heinz, General Mills and other food companies to remove artificial dyes before the end of his term, Bloomberg reported earlier this month.”
Utah ends reduced-price school meals for kids, making them free instead. (Salt Lake Tribune). “Utah families who currently pay reduced prices for school meals will soon get them for free after Gov. Spencer Cox approved a bill Tuesday that eliminates reduced-cost lunches,” Carmen Nesbitt reports. “An additional 40,000 students in kindergarten through sixth grade who currently pay reduced-price meals will now receive school meals for free after July 1 under HB100. Right now, to receive free school meals, a family’s income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level — about $40,560 annually for a family of four. Students currently qualify for reduced-cost lunches if their family’s income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level — about $57,720 for a family of four. Next academic year, these students will qualify for free meals. On average, a reduced-price school meal in Utah costs 40 cents, yet schools have amassed about $2.8 million in lunch debt, as many families still struggle to afford it. The bill also mandates that schools participating in the National School Lunch Program adopt food-waste reduction practices where feasible.”
Fetterman-backed bill would allow striking workers to receive SNAP benefits (WHTM). “Pennsylvania’s senior U.S. senator is introducing a bill that would allow striking workers to qualify for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits,” Kaylee Lindenmuth reports. “Senator John Fetterman joined Reps. Alma Adams (D-North Carolina) and Greg Cesar (D-Texas) in introducing the Food Secure Strikers Act. ‘The union way of life is sacred – it’s what built Pennsylvania and this nation. Every single union worker walking the picket line needs to know that we have their back here in Washington,’ said Fetterman. ‘To protect workers’ right to organize, we must ensure they can put food on the tables for themselves and their families while on strike. I’m proud to lead the effort to ensure workers never need to choose between fighting for fair working conditions and feeding their families. I hope to see this critical legislation passed this Congress.’ Striking workers and households are currently excluded from SNAP eligibility, Fetterman’s office says, and cannot receive benefits unless they were eligible before the strike. Several unions have endorsed the bill, including the National Education Association and the Teamsters.”
Utah becomes first state to ban fluoride in public water (New York Times). “Utah has become the first U.S. state to outlaw the addition of fluoride to public drinking water,” reports Melinda Wenner Moyer. “The law, which was signed by Gov. Spencer Cox on March 27 and will go into effect on May 7, comes amid renewed scrutiny of fluoride, a mineral that has been widely added to U.S. drinking water since 1945 to prevent cavities. Although controversy over the safety of water fluoridation first arose in the 1940s, concerns have intensified in recent years, driven in part by new research on fluoridation and by growing resistance to public health interventions since the pandemic. Anti-fluoridation bills have also been introduced in North Dakota, Tennessee and Montana. Much of the concern centers on the possible cognitive effects in children. But the fluoride levels associated with cognitive problems were more than twice as high as the levels people are generally exposed to through community water fluoridation, said Dr. Scott Tomar, a public health dentist and oral epidemiologist at the University of Illinois Chicago. Gov. Cox has not publicly alluded to health concerns relating to fluoridation, and the bill does not mention any either. He instead has previously said that the oral health benefits of water fluoridation have been insubstantial in Utah, where about 44 percent of residents who were provided with public drinking water consumed fluoridated water in 2022.”
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