In a world where ultraprocessed foods dominate our grocery shelves, a battle is brewing between unlikely allies and adversaries. Former FDA commissioner David Kessler and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite their differences, have united to tackle the health crisis caused by these highly processed foods. Their target? A 67-year-old government classification called GRAS, which has allowed food companies to bypass safety reviews and flood the market with questionable ingredients.
Kessler, a veteran of the tobacco wars, draws parallels between the tobacco industry's manipulation of nicotine and the food industry's use of ultraprocessed foods to hook consumers. He warns that these foods, with their rapid absorption and high palatability, have altered our metabolism and led to an unprecedented rise in chronic diseases. Kennedy, for his part, emphasizes the staggering statistics: 70% of Americans are overweight or obese, and he attributes this to the low-nutrition, high-calorie nature of ultraprocessed foods.
The GRAS exemption, enacted in 1958, has become a loophole exploited by the industry, according to Kennedy. He aims to close this backdoor, arguing that Americans have a right to know what's safe to eat. Kessler, in his petition to Kennedy, calls for the revocation of GRAS status for certain processed carbohydrates, arguing that these ingredients, like corn syrup and maltodextrin, are rapidly absorbed and contribute to metabolic disorders.
While Kennedy's credibility has been questioned due to his stance on vaccines, Kessler sees this as a separate issue. He believes that if Kennedy is willing to take action on ultraprocessed foods, it's a step in the right direction for public health. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has even filed a landmark lawsuit against manufacturers, drawing parallels between the tobacco and food industries.
Food author Michael Pollan adds another layer to the discussion. He ties the prevalence of ultraprocessed foods to federal farm subsidies, which favor corn and soybeans - ingredients that are raw materials for processed foods. Pollan argues that the government is essentially subsidizing unhealthy foods and contributing to the diabetes epidemic. Kennedy, however, maintains that his focus is on informing the public, not regulating ultraprocessed foods, and he aims to make healthy options affordable and accessible to all.
This battle against ultraprocessed foods is a complex web of health concerns, industry influence, and government policy. As Kessler puts it, we need to change how our country views these foods, just as we did with tobacco. The question remains: Will the efforts of these unlikely allies make a difference, or will the powerful industries of Big Ag and Big Food prevail?
