RFK Jr. Moves To Define Ultra-Processed Foods In Push To Make America Healthy Again

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is intensifying his efforts to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) by taking direct aim at ultra-processed foods. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture, led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, Kennedy announced a formal Request for Information (RFI) to establish a federally recognized definition of ultra-processed foods a move he says is crucial to tackling America’s chronic health crisis.

“Ultra-processed foods are driving our chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy declared. “We must act boldly to eliminate the root causes of chronic illness and improve the health of our food supply. Defining ultra-processed foods with a clear, uniform standard will empower us even more to Make America Healthy Again.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released data underscoring the seriousness of the problem:

• About 70% of packaged foods in the U.S. are considered ultra-processed.

• Children get over 60% of their daily calories from these heavily altered products.

• Scientific studies link such foods to increased rates of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity, and neurological disorders.

Secretary Rollins said the new definition is long overdue. “A unified, widely understood definition for ultra-processed foods is long overdue,” Rollins emphasized. “The great men and women of the agriculture value chain will be part of this conversation.”

Kennedy’s announcement comes at a time when obesity and diet-related illnesses are soaring. By establishing a uniform definition, policymakers hope to create consistent standards for research, labeling, and consumer education, paving the way for reforms that encourage healthier eating habits.

The RFI will remain open for public comment until September 23, allowing experts, businesses, and the public to weigh in on which criteria should define “ultra-processed” products.

Kennedy’s fight against harmful additives doesn’t stop at processed foods. Just last week, he announced that thimerosal a mercury-based preservative — will be removed from all flu vaccines in the U.S. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended the change, citing safety concerns.

He has also partnered with several major food companies that have voluntarily begun removing synthetic dyes and other harmful ingredients from their products. This effort marks another win for the MAHA movement, which aims to reduce preventable illness by reforming America’s food and health systems.

With this latest initiative, Kennedy is sending a clear message: the era of unchecked, chemical-laden foods dominating U.S. grocery shelves is coming to an end.

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