WASHINGTON — The Trump administration will respond to a citizen petition calling for a regulatory overhaul of ultra-processed foods, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announced Sunday evening. The pledge, made during an interview on CBS’ “60 Minutes,” signals a potential shift in how the U.S. Government approaches food safety and public health, though the specifics of any action remain unclear.
Kennedy said the administration “will act on” the petition spearheaded by former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief David Kessler, which challenges the agency’s “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) designation for several common sweeteners, including corn syrup. “The questions that he’s asking are questions that FDA should’ve been asking a long, long time ago,” Kennedy told CBS’ Bill Whitaker. “There is no way for any American to know if a product is safe if it is ultra-processed.”
The petition focuses on the GRAS process, which allows companies to self-determine the safety of food additives without undergoing full FDA review. Kennedy directed the FDA in October to review all existing GRAS affirmations, a move Axios reported was intended to increase scrutiny of the process.
Whereas Kennedy indicated a willingness to address concerns about ultra-processed foods, he stopped short of committing to the regulations sought by Kessler. “I’m not saying that we’re going to regulate ultra-processed food,” he said, adding that the administration’s priority is “to create sure that everybody understands what they’re getting, to have an informed public.” This stance follows Kennedy’s issuance of fresh government guidelines last month, the first in U.S. History to formally recommend reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
The move comes as data reveals the significant role ultra-processed foods play in the American diet. According to data released last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults and children over the age of one derived more than half of their daily calories from ultra-processed foods – including hamburgers, pizza, and sweetened beverages – between 2021 and 2023.
Kennedy has framed his efforts to improve the nation’s diet as part of his broader “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) agenda. However, critics contend that his initial efforts, largely focused on securing pledges from companies to alter single ingredients, will have limited impact on public health.
During the “60 Minutes” interview, Whitaker pressed Kennedy on whether his long-held skepticism regarding vaccines might undermine public trust in his efforts regarding food safety. Kennedy reiterated his position, stating, “My stance on vaccines is the same. People should have fine science and they should have choice. People who want to receive vaccines can get them and they can get them fully insured.”
Kessler, while acknowledging his disagreements with Kennedy on vaccines, expressed cautious optimism about the potential for action on ultra-processed foods. “In the strongest possible terms, when it comes to vaccines, I disagree,” Kessler said. “But if he’s willing to take action on these ultra-processed foods, I will be the first to applaud that.” Kessler drew a parallel to his past work leading health campaigns against the tobacco industry in the 1990s, stating, “We changed how this country views tobacco. We need to change how this country views these ultra-processed foods.”
The Consumer Brands Association, a trade group representing the food industry, defended current practices in a statement provided to CBS, asserting that companies “adhere to the rigorous evidence-based safety standards and nutrition policy established by the FDA to deliver safe, affordable and convenient products that consumers depend on every day.”
As of now, the specific actions the Trump administration will take in response to Kessler’s petition remain undisclosed, leaving the future of food regulation in the U.S. Uncertain.
