Agricultural and food companies launch counter offensive against Kennedy’s food dye proposal

Big food companies are working with conservative strategists to build support for national standards that would preempt the state bans on dyes and additives that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is promoting.

Why it matters: The new food and beverage coalition, which includes companies like PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz, could expose cracks between Trump-aligned business interests and Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement.

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Driving the news: Americans for Ingredient Transparency says it supports the administration’s efforts to make food healthier. But the group wants federal standards instead of the emerging patchwork of state regulations, which it says confuse consumers and limit their choices.

Key MAHA influencers are pushing back. Mary Holland, CEO of anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, said the food conglomerates are “attempting to hijack the MAHA movement.”

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RFK Jr. spent two years distancing himself from Children’s Health Defense. Now he’s keynoting its anti-vaccine DC conference.

Newly approved GMO chestnut trees planted across from the White House are stirring debate

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Hari said food companies should use the same ingredients across the country. But state policies are a better way to compel that, since they can be implemented faster and tend to be stricter than what the federal government would require, she said.

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