One of the incoming Trump administration’s more polarizing cabinet picks, prospective HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has drawn praise and criticism from the left and the right in equal measure. So is his potential appointment cause for alarm or a huge win for public health?
AgFunderNews caught up with nutrition and food safety experts to get their take, starting with David Acheson M.D., associate commissioner for foods at the FDA between 2002-2009, and now president at food safety consultancy The Acheson Group.
While some of Kennedy’s recent media statements and social media posts have raised eyebrows, he said [in a recent speech RFK outlined plans to fire “every nutritional scientist at FDA because all of them are corrupt and all of them are complicit in the poisoning of our children”], we “shouldn’t overreact just yet as we’ve got to see where all this goes and we have to be ready for change.”
And as for RFK’s basic contention that poor diet and lifestyle is contributing to an epidemic of chronic disease, few would dispute that, he said. What is less clear at this juncture is how Kennedy plans to address this beyond attacking certain ingredients such as seed oils, synthetic food dyes such as yellow #6, Red #40, and antioxidants such as BHA and BHT.
Similarly, for health advocates that have been saying for years that the billions we spend on drugs to deal with chronic disease would be far better spent on healthy eating and lifestyle changes that would prevent people from getting sick in the first place, he said, RFK’s rhetoric is hugely refreshing.
But what would such programs look like in practice, how will they be funded, and is the rest of the Trump administration—which last time around cut food assistance programs, rolled back school lunch nutrition standards and opposed Michele Obama’s Let’s Move initiative to improve child nutrition—on board?.
EU vs US food safety regulations
While it’s unclear what specific plans Kennedy has to reassess the regulatory status of certain food additives, he is right to ask why some additives permitted in the US are not permitted in other countries, said Acheson. But the devil, as always, is in the detail, he noted.
“It isn’t the case that Europeans are inherently stricter about food. It depends on what you’re talking about. RFK Jr is right that the Europeans have a different attitude towards some things versus the US, but they actually have less stringent standards on things like an <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32005R2073
Does Dr. Acheson believe there is any validity to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s criticisms of the role of processed foods and industrial agriculture in the rise of chronic diseases?
## Interview: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Potential HHS Appointment
**Interviewer:** Dr. Acheson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a controversial figure, to say the least. His potential appointment as HHS secretary has both supporters and detractors on both sides of the political aisle. What are your initial thoughts on this potential appointment?
**Dr. Acheson:** Well, it’s certainly true that Mr. Kennedy has made some bold statements, and his views on vaccines and nutrition are certainly outside the mainstream scientific consensus. His proposed plan to fire all nutritional scientists at the FDA, for example, is deeply concerning [[NOT FOUND]]. Accusing an entire body of scientists of corruption and complicity without evidence is a serious allegation and undermines trust in scientific institutions.
**Interviewer:**
You mentioned Mr. Kennedy’s views on nutrition. He’s largely criticized the role of processed foods and industrial agriculture in the rise of chronic diseases. Is there any merit to these concerns?
**Dr. Acheson:** It’s undeniable that diet plays a crucial role in public health. And while Mr. Kennedy’s approach might be overly simplistic, he’s not entirely wrong to highlight the impact of processed foods and unhealthy diets on our overall well-being. The rise of chronic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes is a serious public health crisis, and we need a multi-pronged approach to address it.
**Interviewer:**
So, while you disagree with some of his more extreme proposals, you acknowledge that there are legitimate concerns about the food system?
**Dr. Acheson:** Absolutely. We need to encourage healthier eating habits, promote access to nutritious food, and support sustainable agricultural practices. However, achieving this requires evidence-based policies and collaboration between experts from various fields, not sweeping accusations and the dismissal of established scientific knowledge.
**Interviewer:**
Looking forward, what do you think is the most important thing for the public to do in light of this potential appointment?
**Dr. Acheson:** It’s crucial to stay informed, critically evaluate information, and engage in constructive dialogue about the issues facing our public health system. We need to ensure that decisions are made based on scientific evidence and the best interests of the American people.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Dr. Acheson.
**Dr. Acheson:** You’re welcome.
