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Butter, beef tallow debate isn't over as heart experts warn of risks and US guidelines differ on fats

Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:33 -0400

Two of the most influential voices in U.S. nutrition guidance are aligned on the basics, yet they diverge on two major cooking ingredients: butter and beef tallow.

As traditional cooking fats, butter and beef tallow infuse flavor into dishes and can make meals more satisfying, but they are calorie-dense.

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed by the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA), include the two as healthy cooking options.

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"When cooking with or adding fats to meals, prioritize oils with essential fatty acids, such as olive oil," the guidelines state. "Other options can include butter or beef tallow."

But when the guidelines were released in January, the American Heart Association (AHA) issued a statement urging a cautious, evidence-based approach to using butter and tallow.

"[W]e encourage consumers to prioritize plant-based proteins, seafood and lean meats and to limit high-fat animal products including red meat, butter, lard and tallow, which are linked to increased cardiovascular risk," the Dallas, Texas-based organization said.

In response to questions from Fox News Digital, both the AHA and HHS emphasized their shared objectives over any differences.

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The AHA "is aligned with the Dietary Guidelines on the major issues: eat real food, avoid highly processed food and limit refined grains and added sugar," Andrew Nixon, a spokesperson for HHS, told Fox News Digital.

"We look forward to working collaboratively with the AHA to evangelize these core principles and reverse the diet-related chronic disease epidemic."

The AHA, on the other hand, said in a statement "that lasting progress happens when we come together."

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"We are committed to working alongside government and all aligned partners across health care, academia, the private sector and communities nationwide to advance practical, evidence-based solutions that make healthy choices easier for everyone," the AHA spokesperson said.

"Together, we will create a future in which longer, healthier lives are within reach for all."

The AHA spokesperson also noted that the HHS guidelines are "consistent in many important ways" with its own, including avoiding ultraprocessed foods and eating whole foods.

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Though butter and beef tallow aren't small issues, California-based celebrity chef Andrew Gruel said the debate misses a bigger issue.

He said it's really about how Americans actually cook.

Gruel, who is part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, told Fox News Digital the issue is that Americans already use too much fat when they cook — and that, by switching to traditional ingredients, they can actually reduce it.

"I always encourage the saturated fats, in addition to avocado oil and olive oil," he said.

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"It's not always, for me, butter and beef tallow or pork fat. ... I use a lot of lard or even schmaltz, which is chicken fat."

Using these fats, Gruel said, yields "a much cleaner, more pronounced flavor."

"And as a result, you use less of it," he said. "Using less of a higher-quality fat in the long run is a net negative in regard to how much fat you're using. And that is the key."

He offered a simple analogy: Would you rather spread butter on toast, or pour a cup of soybean oil over it?

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That difference is even more noticeable in real-world kitchens, where oils are often left at high heat for hours, Gruel said.

"If you have canola oil that's been sitting in a fryer all day … it's bitter, and you can taste that old grease on the food," he noted.

Gruel said MAHA advocates and animal fat skeptics still have a common denominator: olive oil.

"We know olive oil is good. So much of what we consume off the shelf has these low-quality industrial seed oils in it," Gruel said. "Even if you're taking something like a vinaigrette, making it at home isn't just healthier, it's also cheaper."

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He continued, "There are so many ways we can cut some of these fats out of our diet just by cooking one more meal a week at home or making a condiment fresh. That's really the key."

Trump responds to reports FDA chief Mark Makary could be fired: 'Know nothing about it'

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:52:54 -0400

President Donald Trump downplayed reports that he was getting ready to fire Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary while speaking to reporters Friday.

"I've been reading about it, but I know nothing about it," Trump said in response to a question about Makary's potential firing. When asked what's going on with Makary, Trump responded "nothing much."

Initial buzz about a possible Makary ouster started circulating when The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that Trump had pressured Makary to fast track approval for flavored nicotine vapes.

Makary, according to WSJ, pushed back on the request, drawing Trump's ire.

The friction pushed Trump to sign off on a plan to fire Makary, WSJ reported Friday.

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Trump did not confirm the WSJ reporting, instead telling reporters "no, no" when asked if he was bringing in a new FDA head.

Makary has been embroiled in a number of controversies since being confirmed as the FDA head in March 2025.

Pro-life activists have accused the former oncology surgeon of slow-walking a safety review for abortion pill mifepristone.

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"This is a five-alarm crisis for the pro-life movement and for the GOP," SBA Pro-Life America president Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement calling for Makary's firing.

"The GOP cannot win without its base and simply will not get the enthusiasm that drives turnout without leadership from the top," she wrote.

Pharmaceutical and biotech firms have also opposed Makary. John Crowley, the head of the biotech trade group, Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), condemned some of Makary's personnel cuts in a recent op-ed.

"Some of the administration’s recent efforts to reform the federal government through aggressive and often indiscriminate personnel cuts have lacked the strategic insights necessary to modernize and reform our nation’s health care agencies, especially the FDA," Crowley wrote.

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But others, particularly those in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) camp, have come to Makary's defense, arguing calls for his firing are corporate-funded attacks.

"Dr. Makary is an ally in the MAHA movement," Kelly Ryerson, an author and popular advocate also known as Glyphosate Girl, told Fox News Digital.

"It is not surprising that his uncaptured approach to protecting human health has been met with the swamp calling for his firing," she continued.

"The criticism is that he didn’t approve flavored vapes quickly enough. The mothers who don’t want their kids smoking find that reasoning alarming," Ryerson concluded.

"The attacks against FDA Commissioner Marty Makary are coming from Big Pharma and the media outlets financially dependent on pharmaceutical advertising for survival," Turning Point USA-affiliated podcaster Alex Clark wrote in a Friday post on X.

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"Washington SWAMP CREATURES hate Makary because he brings actual scientific scrutiny, independent thinking, and puts Americans’ health FIRST. President Trump has consistently said he wants to Make America Healthy Again. Replacing Makary with a pharma puppet would move us backward, not forward. DO NOT FIRE MAKARY. He is one of the strongest representatives of the MAHA movement inside the federal government. SCREW OFF BIG PHARMA," Clark wrote.

Vani Hari, a popular food blogger and prominent media figure among the MAHA movement, also wrote that a Makary ouster "would be a horrible move."

Fox News Digital contacted the White House, HHS, the FDA, BIO and SBA Pro-Life America for additional comment.

Beet demand explodes as Americans chase health benefits in superfood boom

Sat, 09 May 2026 08:00:14 -0400

Beets are no longer just a niche health food — they're becoming a mainstream staple as demand rises across farms, restaurants and supplements, reflecting a broader shift in how Americans eat.

The red, purple or sometimes gold root vegetable — not to be confused with its white cousin, the sugar beet — is low-calorie and packed with nutrients and compounds linked to benefits, ranging from brain health to athletic performance.

Several studies suggest beets may help lower blood pressure, increase blood flow and protect arteries.

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"That's in large part because beets are naturally rich in nitrates, a compound that our bodies convert to nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator that relaxes and widens blood vessels," as The Washington Post recently noted.

"Beets are also high in fiber, vitamins and other plant compounds that reduce inflammation and promote metabolic health."

More recently, demand for beet supplements — including capsules, powders, gummies and juice shots — has surged.

Some health experts note, however, that these forms may provide less fiber and fewer benefits than eating the whole vegetable.

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"Beet acreage has more than doubled since the 2007 census," according to a 2025 Penn State Extension report.

Dedicated beet farming now spans 17,013 acres across 7,543 operations nationwide.

Beets are also appearing more frequently on restaurant menus and in diet-tracking apps.

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"Beets have definitely become more prominent on menus in recent years," Robert Mahon, managing partner of Mahon Hospitality Group in New York City, told Fox News Digital.

"They hit a sweet spot for operators. They're cost-effective, versatile and align well with the growing demand for healthier, plant-forward dishes."

Beets consistently rank among the top 10 most-searched vegetables on meal-logging apps, driven by their reputation as "nutritional overachievers" and because "users want to do more with less," said California-based Aarika Chilson, founder of the website Just Beet It.

Yet another expert told Fox News Digital there's "a deeper consumer behavior shift" driving the beet craze.

That's according to Ravi Sawhney, founder of California-based RKS Design and creator of Psycho-Aesthetics, who studies why people adopt certain products and trends.

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"Consumers are choosing foods that reinforce how they see themselves," Sawhney said. "Beets have become a signal of being health-aware, elevated and intentional, and restaurants are responding by designing menus that reflect that aspirational identity."

Mahon agreed that "it's less of a passing craze and more part of a broader move toward simple, ingredient-led cooking that still delivers on flavor and presentation."

But the earthy taste isn't for everybody.

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"A recent Mintel (2025) survey revealed that while earth-root vegetables like beets and turnips are now more commonly offered in restaurants, they are also more polarizing in terms of tasting experiences," Penn State Extension reported.

"When it comes to preferences by generations, interestingly, 49% of baby boomers (born 1946–1964) mentioned that they had tried and liked beets, while only 36% of Generation Z (born 1997-2012) had tried and liked them."

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Preferences may ultimately come down to preparation.

Beets, Mahon said, "work well across formats — salads, sides, starters — which makes them easy to integrate without overhauling a menu."

MAKARY, DIAMANTAS: Parents worried about baby formula safety just got the news they needed

Fri, 08 May 2026 07:00:13 -0400

When it comes to infant formula, the safety of every bottle is non-negotiable. That’s why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just completed the most comprehensive and rigorous testing of infant formula for chemical contaminants in our nation’s history.

We analyzed more than 300 products and generated over 130,000 data points, screening for the contaminants that parents are most concerned about: heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic; pesticides, including glyphosate and glufosinate; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS; and phthalates.

The results are clear — and a relief. The U.S. infant formula supply is safe, with the overwhelming majority of products showing undetectable or extremely low levels of these substances. While breast milk is widely recognized as the gold standard, millions of parents and caregivers depend on formula. For these families, the results from our testing are reassuring.

Here’s a sample of the results: No pesticides were detected in 99% of samples, and 1% had fewer than 0.25 parts per billion. For the heavy metals we tested, all samples were well below Environmental Protection Agency requirements for drinking water. PFAS and plasticizers had similarly reassuring results.

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Despite these positive results, there is more work to be done for Operation Stork Speed — our mission to enhance the safety and nutrition of infant formula — to be a success.

Supply chain failures, bureaucratic sluggishness and outdated regulatory standards continue to strain the trust families place in the food system. Under President Donald Trump, we’re prioritizing babies over bureaucracy, so families can have confidence in what they feed their children.

Our "Babies First" approach rests on three essential pillars: safety, availability and quality.

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To ensure the safety of infant formula, we will continue to use every available tool to drive contaminant levels as low as possible. This work does not end with a single round of testing. The FDA will continue to monitor infant formula products, expand our data collection, and apply the latest scientific tools to ensure standards remain as strong tomorrow as they are today, including through the establishment of action levels. We will test new products as they enter the market, ensure accountability, and share our findings openly with the public.

To promote availability and prevent shortages, we will remove unnecessary regulatory barriers and work with industry to monitor potential supply chain disruptions so that safe, high-quality products can reach store shelves without delay. We’ve also asked Congress to modernize the FDA’s authorities so we can better establish limits for contaminants and address microbiological risks.

As part of this project, we are committed to delivering a greater variety of infant formula product options for the American people to meet demand for products with more natural ingredients and without certain ingredients, such as added sugars, corn syrup and seed oils.

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We are not simply reacting to past challenges. To enhance formula quality for the future, we are modernizing the framework of pediatric nutrition. As part of this effort, we have launched a joint effort with the National Institutes of Health to study how dietary exposures in infancy influence health outcomes across a lifetime. We are also using modern scientific tools to anticipate future innovations and risks and protect the next generation.

Before we came into office, the last comprehensive review of formula nutrients occurred in 1998. That gap is unacceptable — especially in a country that leads the world in scientific innovation. As science evolves, our regulatory framework must evolve with it.

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The Trump administration believes that a strong nation begins with its smallest citizens. That’s why we don’t see Operation Stork Speed as just a mission to regulate certain products. It’s a commitment to protect American families and America’s future, grounded in transparency, strength and action.

When it comes to infant formula, the safety of every bottle is non-negotiable. We are committed to putting babies first today and every day.

Kyle Diamantas, J.D. is Deputy FDA Commissioner for Food.

RFK Jr. unveils initiative targeting 'overuse' of psychiatric medications, especially among children

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:45:57 -0400

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday unveiled a new initiative targeting what he described as the "overuse" of psychiatric medications, part of a broader push to confront the nation's mental health crisis.

Speaking Monday at a Make America Healthy Again Institute summit, Kennedy said the effort will emphasize the appropriate deprescribing of psychiatric drugs while shifting care toward prevention and more holistic treatment approaches.

"Today, we take clear and decisive action to confront our nation’s mental health crisis by addressing the overuse of psychiatric medications — especially among children," Kennedy said in a statement.

"We will support patient autonomy, require informed consent and shared decision-making, and shift the standard of care toward prevention, transparency, and a more holistic approach to mental health."

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Antidepressants rank among the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States, with a 2025 survey of over 30,000 adults showing that 16.6% were using them, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Kennedy stressed the effort is not about forcing patients off medication, the outlet reported.

"Let me be clear: If you are taking psychiatric medication, we are not telling you to stop," Kennedy said. "We are making sure you — and your clinician — have the information and support to make the right decision for you."

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In a letter released Monday, HHS urged providers to prioritize informed consent and shared decision-making, and to routinely reassess the risks and benefits of psychiatric medications with patients.

The department also highlighted other ways to treat mental health issues, including therapy, family support, better nutrition and exercise, when appropriate.

At the same time, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced new guidance allowing physicians to be reimbursed for helping patients safely taper off psychiatric medications and monitor withdrawal.

The plan also includes a new report on prescribing trends, more training for doctors, and a panel of experts to guide future decisions on medication use.

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An HHS spokesperson pointed to rising prescription rates among children, including increases in ADHD diagnoses and antidepressant use, arguing the trend reflects "overmedicalization" and a need to expand non-drug, evidence-based treatment options.

"HHS is committed to elevating the role of nonmedication treatments and scalable, evidence-based solutions to improve mental health and prevent the unnecessary initiation of psychiatric medications," an HHS spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

Trump turns Obama-era youth health policy on its head as school fitness benchmark returns

Tue, 05 May 2026 07:29:35 -0400

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump will sign a presidential memorandum Tuesday restoring the Presidential Fitness Test Award, according to the White House, reviving a competitive school-based fitness program phased out during the Obama administration.

The signing will be attended by members of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, as well as National Fitness Foundation board members including high-profile athletes including golfer Bryson DeChambeau, retired professional golfer Gary Player, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Amani Oruwariye and MLB pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

The move reintroduces a performance-based benchmark for student fitness, echoing the Trump administration’s broader "Make America Healthy Again" push.

Trump first signed an executive order to reestablish the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and the Presidential Fitness Test last year, with the memorandum on Tuesday paving the way for the administration to restore the test and awards at all American schools, Fox News Digital learned.

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The revitalized award emphasizes measurable athletic performance standards similar to earlier versions of the test, which ranked students based on physical achievement, according to a copy of the National Physical Fitness Award obtained by Fox News Digital.

The original Presidential Physical Fitness Test was phased out during former President Barack Obama’s second term and replaced with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, part of the "Let’s Move" initiative. Critics at the time argued that the test focused too much on performance and competition, discouraging less athletic students.

The President’s Council on Youth Fitness was first established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower after studies showed American children were less physically fit than European peers. Schools began administering a fitness test under President John F. Kennedy, launching the President’s Council on Physical Fitness.

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The Obama-era Presidential Youth Fitness Program focused "primarily on assessing health versus athleticism for America’s youth," according to the Let’s Move website.

Fox News Digital reached out to the office of President Obama for comment.

More than 21% of Americans ages 2 to 19 were classified as obese between 2021 and 2023, while 7% of American youths had severe obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Trump is expected to sign the memorandum in the Oval Office, followed by an event on the South Lawn with families and children to mark National Youth Sports and Fitness Month, Fox News Digital learned.

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Cabinet secretaries including Dept. of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, and Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon will also be in attendance.

Trump surgeon general pick sparks backlash, splits MAHA movement

Mon, 04 May 2026 18:18:24 -0400

President Donald Trump’s new nominee for surgeon general is exposing divisions in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, the health-focused coalition elevated inside the administration by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"The new surgeon general nominee, Dr. Nicole Saphier, may have a great pro-life testimony, but she gets an F when it comes to all things MAHA," said Turning Point USA health and wellness podcaster Alex Clark — a comment shared by other MAHA activists like Kelly Ryerson, an anti-pesticide advocate also known online as "Glyphosate Girl."

"DOGE the Surgeon General!!! We want medical freedom!!!! If not Casey - we take no one!" added Vani Hari, also known online as "Feed Babe" and a prominent figure inside the MAHA movement.

She recently told The Atlantic that failing to confirm Means would "ruin the soul of MAHA."

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After Trump's initial pick for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, was withdrawn in 2025, Trump selected Casey Means, a Stanford-trained physician, wellness author and entrepreneur, and vocal MAHA proponent who was close to Kennedy as he helped develop the Trump administration's health agenda.

Means' nomination was withdrawn Thursday, and she was replaced with radiologist and former Fox News contributor Dr. Nicole Saphier amid a stalled confirmation process leading up to the eventual pivot.

Trump announced that Means' nomination would be withdrawn from his Truth Social platform Thursday and replaced with Saphier amid the stalled confirmation process, in part caused by Means' pregnancy during the process and the need for extensive vetting, a source familiar with the nomination told Fox News Digital.

Minutes before Trump announced the pivot to Saphier on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump called Means "a strong MAHA Warrior, at the recommendation of Secretary Kennedy, who understands the MAHA Movement better than anyone."

Kennedy also praised Means as news was coming down that she would be replaced by Saphier.

Meanwhile, the pair also lambasted moderate U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., Chairman of the Senate's powerful health committee in charge of getting the surgeon general nomination approved, for allegedly sabotaging Means' nomination.

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Delays and concerns about Means' qualifications and views on vaccines, among other things, slowed down the process, until, according to a source familiar with the confirmation process, it was determined that not enough support would be garnered to secure Means' appointment.

Saphier has been described by Trump as "an INCREDIBLE COMMUNICATOR" who "will do great things for our Country," and Kennedy has also publicly supported Saphier's nomination. But MAHA activists became alarmed by the decision to withdraw Means' nomination.

Clark described Saphier as a "catastrophic mistake" at a time when the MAHA coalition is "very fragile."

"She is one of the most pro-vaccine advocates in medicine, even defending Hep B on the first day of life," Clark wrote on X. "My position isn’t to replace Dr. Saphier. It’s to completely DOGE the Surgeon General role. If we don’t, we risk accelerating the loss of one of the most activated voting blocs the GOP is already watching slip away."

"Doge the SG!!!!" Hari said in a post on X Sunday, lamenting that the pivot is just "more of the same."

"We’re seeing a system that protects itself," she added, according to The Washington Post. "A system that says it wants change but recoils the moment real change shows up."

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"I am so proud of Casey, and the way she conducted herself during this process," her brother, Calley Means, another early leader within the MAHA movement said on X before laying into Cassidy. "I am also proud to work for the Trump admin, who has marshaled the disruptive MAHA message and driven victories against dark forces personified by Bill Cassidy."

Fox News Digital reached out to Saphier for comment on the criticism that she is not skeptical enough of vaccines, but did not hear back.

White House spokesperson Kush Desai said Saphier has been "an outspoken voice" against "intrusive COVID-19 mandates, the politicization of science, and the federal government's role in America's chronic disease epidemic."

"She will be a powerful asset ... to deliver on every facet of (the president's) MAHA agenda."

Others aligned with the MAHA world appeared less concerned with Means' departure, such as the Independent Medical Alliance, which is anti-pesticide, promotes questions about vaccine efficacy and supported two of Kennedy's picks for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel.

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Dr. Joseph Varon, the group's president and chief medical officer, said Saphier was "exactly who America needs," describing her as "a real doctor, treating real patients, who has the spine to tell the truth even when it's unpopular."

Dr. Robert Malone, a leading contrarian to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and lockdown measures and a supporter of the broader MAHA movement, described Saphier as "moderate-MAHA" in a blog on his Substack.

Malone also attempted to assuage fears Saphier is too pro-vaccine.

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"This is the part MAHA readers care about most, and it is the part where Saphier’s record is most genuinely mixed," Malone wrote on his blog.

"She is pro-individual-vaccine on the merits. She is supportive of parental autonomy on schedule. She is critical of universal pediatric mandates absent benefit data. She is explicitly sympathetic to MAHA’s vaccine-safety-surveillance reform agenda," he continued. "She is not, in any reading I can construct from the documentary record, an anti-vaccine voice in the medical-freedom register that, say, Children’s Health Defense operates in. She is also not, in any reading I can construct, a CDC-establishment-defending voice of the kind Cassidy is looking for."

Kennedy, known for being a vaccine skeptic, faced backlash when he attempted to make formal changes to the U.S. childhood vaccine schedule — changes ultimately blocked by the courts.

Fox News Digital reached out to MAHA Action, whose founder Tony Lyons fought against moderate GOP Senators, like Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Ak., who were not supportive of Means' nomination, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Gen Z turns on classic snacks, forcing major grocery shake-up: 'They don't trust them'

Mon, 04 May 2026 08:00:03 -0400

America's snack habits are getting a makeover — with Gen Z and Gen Alpha leading the charge.

The snack aisle at the grocery store may be looking a little different as younger consumers reshape demand, favoring snacks with simpler ingredients, more nutritional benefits and lower upfront costs, according to NielsenIQ data.

Thirty-five percent of parents who are buying snacks for their households with Gen Alpha kids born after 2010 say they prioritize natural ingredients, while 34% are actively seeking high-protein options, according to NielsenIQ data reported by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS).

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"The baseline for Gen Alpha is a better product," said Chris Costagli, vice president of thought leadership at NielsenIQ, according to the NACS.

"It's a cleaner product. It's a more transparent product."

About 25% of consumers overall say they actively look for snacks without synthetic additives, including dyes, according to NielsenIQ.

The shift comes as regulators have also taken action, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moving to ban Red Dye No. 3 from food and drinks beginning in 2027.

The shift is pushing brands to rethink not just ingredients, but marketing tactics as well.

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Health-focused trends are playing a major role, with protein-packed snacks among the top trends for 2026 — while products touting functional benefits such as gut health are also gaining traction, according to Innova Market Insights, as reported by Fast Company.

Consumers are also paying more attention to labels, with many seeking organic and gluten-free certifications and simpler ingredients.

But younger shoppers are approaching brands' claims with increased skepticism.

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"Young consumers are moving away from traditional brands because they don't trust them unconditionally," said Hana Ben-Shabat, the New Jersey-based author of "Gen Z 360" and the founder of the advisory firm Gen Z Planet.

"They question ingredients and marketing claims, and increasingly rely on third-party sources, influencers and reviews to decide what to buy," Ben-Shabat told Fox News Digital.

Compared to older generations, Gen Z consumers are more likely to use third-party apps such as Yuka and Fooducate to scan barcodes and evaluate food products rather than relying solely on packaging claims, with nearly 30% saying they trust these tools more than product labels, according to NielsenIQ data.

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Some brands are responding by simplifying labels or leaning into transparency in their packaging.

"Gen Z and Gen Alpha want to know what's actually in what they're eating or drinking, and they want that information upfront," said Mitchell Madoff, the Texas-based head of retail partnerships at Keychain, an AI-powered manufacturing platform for the packaged goods industry.

Madoff pointed to products like RXBAR, which lists its protein bar ingredients on the front of the package, as an example.

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Social media also plays a growing role in how snacks gain traction.

"If they want to know about a product, they're checking TikTok or Instagram to see what people are saying," Madoff told Fox News Digital. "When something goes viral and is backed by creators they trust, it doesn't just trend. It flies off shelves."

Brands like Poppi, a "better-for-you" prebiotic soda, have built momentum through online buzz and influencer engagement, he noted.

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Younger shoppers are also responding to economic pressures, experts note.

Rather than buying in bulk, many Gen Zers are opting for smaller packages, even if the per-unit price is higher, while still showing a willingness to spend more on snacks they perceive as healthier, the NACS reported.

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Despite these changes, demand for snacks remains strong.

About three-quarters of consumers snack daily, according to surveys from Innova Market Insights, and experts say there is still an appetite for adventure, with global flavors and nostalgic favorites among the top picks.

Trump calls Sen Bill Cassidy 'very disloyal' and urges Louisiana voters to replace him over nominee fight

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:32:08 -0400

President Trump accused Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., on Thursday of being "very disloyal" and playing "political games" over his opposition to the confirmation of the commander-in-chief's second Surgeon General nominee.

The President concluded his remarks by urging voters to replace the Louisiana Republican. In a Truth Social post, Trump assailed Cassidy over the failure to secure D. Casey Means' confirmation.

"For months, Senator Bill Cassidy (of the GREAT State of Louisiana!), a very disloyal person whose ‘TRUMP’ Endorsement got him elected, but later voted to impeach ‘President Trump’ on what has now proven to be a total Hoax and Scam, has stood in the way of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nominee, Casey Means, for the important position of U.S. Surgeon General," Trump wrote.

He described Means as a "strong MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) Warrior" who "will continue to fight for MAHA on the many important health issues facing our Country."

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Means' brother, Calley Means, who serves as a White House advisor, also blamed Cassidy for the failed nomination.

"Bill Cassidy is a mindless avatar for his donors and a blind defender of the status quo system that is profiting from American sickness," he wrote on X. "At every turn during Casey’s confirmation, Bill Cassidy worked to delay her and smear her. For several months last year, Bill Cassidy knew Casey’s due date. He demanded to schedule her hearing on her due date, and at the last minute scheduled it two days later."

"He could have scheduled it weeks before," he added. "Casey ended up having her baby the hour her first hearing was scheduled."

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In a subsequent post, Trump announced the nomination of Dr. Nicole Saphier, a former Fox News Channel contributor. He called her "a STAR physician" who has spent her career guiding women through breast cancer diagnoses while "tirelessly advocating to increase early cancer detection and prevention for both men and women."

Trump further urged voters to replace Cassidy, who faces primary challenges from Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming and Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La.

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Means had previously appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, which Cassidy chairs. During the proceeding, Cassidy raised concerns regarding her views on vaccinations.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Cassidy's office for comment.

House Republicans splinter over pesticide provision in farm bill as MAHA movement flexes its muscle

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:01:42 -0400

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers moved Thursday to strip out a controversial pesticide provision from legislation setting U.S. farm and nutrition policy after Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., threatened to "slaughter" the legislation if her measure did not receive a floor vote.

Lawmakers voted 280 to 142 to approve Luna’s amendment, which removed language from the farm bill shielding pesticide manufacturers from legal liability.

The successful vote could be a sign of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement’s growing influence over congressional Republicans, who splintered over the issue. Leading MAHA advocates applied public pressure on Republicans to back the amendment, arguing that failing to do so would be a betrayal of the MAHA movement.

Seventy-three Republicans backed Luna's measure, while 142 GOP lawmakers rejected it.

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES THREATEN EXTENDED SHUTDOWN OVER ELECTION INTEGRITY MEASURE

The provision that lawmakers struck would block lawsuits against pesticide companies for failing to disclose potential health risks as long as they are in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations on labeling. States and localities would be barred from issuing pesticide labeling guidance that diverges from the EPA.

"I have a little boy, and the amount of articles I have seen on pesticides and herbicides popping up in children’s products (to include organic) is very bad," Luna, a MAHA-aligned Republican, wrote on social media earlier this week. "On behalf of all the moms and dads that aren’t in office, I am not going to be bullied into supporting a bill that is providing protections and immunity to corporations that are responsible for giving children and adults cancer."

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, policy chair of the House Freedom Caucus, also endorsed Luna’s amendment, arguing it would "protect Americans from dangerous pesticides."

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Republican critics, however, contended that Luna’s amendment would raise costs for consumers if the pesticide provision was stripped from the farm bill.

"If the EPA says the label is good, I don’t see why every state municipality should have to have another label that would simply raise the price for the American consumer," Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., said in opposition to Luna’s measure.

"We're not talking about the pesticide in the jug as has been misrepresented to the American citizens and especially the MAHA movement," Scott continued. "We're talking about just the label on the jug. There is no liability shield for the pesticide in the jug.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., also sharply criticized Luna’s measure.

"The arguments on the other side are pretty shallow, and they're emotional," Thompson said on the House floor. "They're not science-based."

Democrats also widely backed the effort to remove the pesticide provision from the bill.

"Put simply, this language puts chemical company profits over the health of Americans," Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said during debate on the House floor.

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The floor battle over the pesticide provision also comes as the Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week about whether pesticide manufacturers like Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, should be given legal preemption from failing to warn consumers that its weedkiller product Roundup could cause cancer.

The Trump administration sparked controversy among MAHA advocates earlier this year when it declared domestic production of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, a national security priority. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an influential MAHA voice, publicly defended the move despite railing against glyphosate for years.

Bayer has repeatedly maintained that its product is safe to use and has not been found to cause cancer.

If Republicans believe in MAHA, why are they backing this farm bill?

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:09:12 -0400

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on the most consequential piece of food-and-farming legislation in nearly a decade. Congress hasn’t passed a farm bill since 2018, and the new legislation touches nearly every corner of the food system, from farm subsidies and crop insurance to food assistance, conservation, research and rural development.

The vote is coming at a moment when food prices are still painfully high, farms are going bankrupt at an alarming rate, and Americans across political divides are waking up to the toll that toxic agrochemicals are taking on the nation’s health.

The problem is: the Republican farm bill would make all of those challenges worse.

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At its best, a farm bill is supposed to do something straightforward and practical. It is supposed to help keep farms financially solvent, lower costs for consumers, strengthen rural communities, and improve access to healthy and sustainable food. It is one of the main ways the federal government decides what kinds of farming it rewards, what kinds of food it makes easier to buy, and what kinds of risks it is willing to tolerate in the name of production.

This year’s Republican bill is, alas, all about giveaways to the biggest industrial producers and chemical companies, as well as cuts to key anti-hunger programs and healthy food-and-farming investments in order to pay for unpopular priorities like the war in Iran. The bill enshrines the GOP’s major cuts to SNAP and other food assistance programs for hungry kids. It would reduce funding for federal conservation and healthy-soil programs. And it includes language that would reinforce legal immunity for chemical companies and undermine local standards, including around schools and parks.

The legislation is especially reckless in the context of what’s happening right now. USDA says food prices in February were 3.1% higher than a year earlier. Farm bankruptcies rose 46% in 2025. USDA also forecasts that net farm income will fall again in 2026. This is the moment when Congress should be helping farmers get off the costly chemical treadmill and helping to make healthy food affordable.

This week’s vote coincides with oral arguments at the Supreme Court in Monsanto v. Durnell, where a major chemical company is seeking a ruling that could make it far harder for farmers and families to sue after documented evidence of cancer from chemical exposure.

The Trump Justice Department filed an amicus brief siding with Monsanto against American farmers. This isn’t a technical legal dispute. It’s the question of whether people who were harmed by toxic pesticides can still seek accountability. President Donald Trump is on the wrong side of that argument.

This isn’t an isolated case. In February, the president signed an executive order expanding domestic supply of carcinogenic glyphosate-based herbicides. Around the same time, the EPA reapproved dicamba for over-the-top use on cotton and soybeans, despite years of controversy over its drift onto neighboring crops and wild plants. Meanwhile, the arm of USDA that farmers rely on for help adopting organic, lower-input and soil-building practices, has lost nearly one in four staff.

That is why this farm bill debate is such an important test of whether Republicans are serious about making America healthy again. If they are, they should work across the aisle on a farm bill that makes healthy food more affordable for Americans.

What would that look like?

First, a responsible farm bill would take on corporate power rather than entrench it. No pesticide immunity shield. No special protections for companies that keep dangers off labels while families, farmers and farmworkers bear the costs. A serious MAHA farm bill would keep the courts open to allow farmers compensation for proven harms caused by toxic chemicals.

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Second, it would help farmers get off the costly chemical treadmill. That means fully funding conservation, technical assistance and organic transition programs to adopt lower-cost, lower-input methods. It means supporting cover crops, crop rotations, buffer strips and other practices that improve soil health while reducing long-term expenses. It means strengthening local and regional markets so farmers can keep more of the food dollar instead of sending it up the chain to a handful of big companies.

Third, it would make healthy food more affordable for American families. That means restoring support for healthier school meals, expanding access to fresh, local and lower-toxin foods in public institutions, and aligning federal purchasing with the goal of making healthier food easier to buy. It also means looking seriously at concrete measures like restricting pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation and expanding pesticide-free food procurement.

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If Republicans truly want to claim the mantle of MAHA, this is the moment to prove it.

Justin Talbot Zorn is a senior advisor at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington.

Steak 'n Shake's new 'Chief MAHA Officer' teases RFK Jr-inspired menu shift

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 08:44:50 -0400

FIRST ON FOX — Steak ‘n Shake will switch to grass-fed beef at all of its locations by June 1, the fast food chain's newly-appointed "Chief MAHA Officer" Michael Boes exclusively told Fox News Digital.

The move comes after Steak 'n Shake sought to align with the "Make America Healthy Again" priorities of the Trump administration last year by switching to beef tallow instead of seed oils in their fryers.

"There are a lot of health benefits that I could get into in regard to grass-fed beef and non-grass-fed beef, but the reality is we think it tastes better," Boes said in an interview just days after his new role was announced. "We tested it out in local markets and the customers reiterated that desire to go that route."

It's unclear whether the switch to grass-fed beef might result in an increase in the chain’s pricing amid soaring beef prices.

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The move further bolsters the company’s previous efforts to align itself with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAGA agenda.

At the outset of President Donald Trump’s second term, Steak ‘n Shake announced it would start cooking its french fries in beef tallow — raising alarm among health advocates and praise from those who denounce seed-based oils.

Kennedy praised the switch at the time, saying he hoped more companies would follow suit. He confirmed HHS under his leadership would not ban use of seed oils but would allow companies to respond to consumer priorities.

"I have a libertarian outlook. People should be able to make their own choices. If you want to eat a donut or seed oils, you should be able to," Kennedy told Fox News during a visit to a Florida Steak ‘n Shake location in March 2025.

"We want to do everything that we can to incentivize these companies to be transparent, to switch over from ultra-processed food and to be part of this movement to make America healthier," Kennedy added.

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Boes’ new position, which the company says is "dedicated to advancing nutritional integrity, ingredient transparency and the healthiness of our products," furthers the company’s alignment with RFK Jr.'s aims.

Before making history as the world's first "Chief MAHA Officer," Boes worked as a senior advisor at HHS.

When speaking with Fox News Digital, Boes said he got sign-off from Kennedy before using the MAHA moniker for his new role.

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"During my time serving Sec. Kennedy, I had countless conversations with industry partners about returning to real food," Boes said in a post to LinkedIn on Tuesday.

"Time and again, I heard the same hesitation: 'Our customers aren't demanding this.' Steak 'n Shake challenged that narrative and growth followed. Fast food doesn't have to mean processed, complicated or artificial. It used to mean real, simple and delicious — and it can again."

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Boes did not say when asked by Fox News Digital whether the change to all grass-fed and grass-finished beef on June 1 could result in an uptick in pricing for Steak 'n Shake.

The conflict in Iran — and specifically the closure of the Strait of Hormuz shipping route — is resulting in a bottleneck in getting oil and other fuels out of the Middle East, which is driving up the costs of beef and a myriad of other products.

Fox News Digital's Katelyn Caralle contributed to this report.

Living to 100 could become a 'choice' within five years, human biologist Gary Brecka tells Hannity

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:27:38 -0400

Reaching age 100 may no longer be achieved solely by genetics and luck but could become a "choice," according to human biologist Gary Brecka.

Brecka joined the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast to discuss his theory that a convergence of factors may redefine what it takes to reach age 100.

"I believe if you’re alive five years from today, it will be your choice whether you want to live to age 100, possibly longer," Brecka told host Sean Hannity in the episode released Thursday.

Brecka is a human biologist, "biohacker" and longevity expert with years of experience studying the human body. He hosts a podcast that explores the science of aging and optimizing health.

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He said advances in early disease detection and artificial intelligence could help extend human lifespans, potentially prompting people to consider whether they want to live to 100.

"We have a unique time where there's a convergence of early detection, big data and artificial intelligence," Brecka said. "So artificial intelligence can take 700 million independent variables and create an actionable result."

Last year, Brecka made similar comments in an interview with Hannity, saying data "has no agenda." He said he believes artificial intelligence could allow humans to "circumvent" natural limits and take greater control over their lifespan.

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Brecka has also voiced support for the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative.

In a 2025 interview with Fox News Digital, he argued the U.S. had become the "sickest, fattest, most disease-ridden nation in the world."

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Brecka warned that Americans are "micro-poisoning" themselves through chemicals in the food supply, creating what he calls a culture of "immuno-fatigue."

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He went on to argue that, despite our nation spending nearly $5 trillion a year on healthcare, America leads the world in morbid obesity, Type 2 diabetes, infant mortality and maternal mortality among high-income, developed countries.

"And the rates of autism are exploding from one in 10,000 to one in 34 children. Learning disabilities are on the rise, the highest rates of childhood cancer, the high rates of childhood obesity," he added.

"Something has to change."

Watch the full interview with Gary Brecka on YouTube.

DR MARC SIEGEL: What Dr Oz says about Trump’s diet may surprise his harshest critics

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:00:53 -0400

I have known cardiologist Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, for many years. I’ve interviewed him multiple times on my show, "Doctor Radio Reports" on SiriusXM, and have also spent time around the dinner table with him and his family.

Many in the cardiac and cardiac surgery fields in New York have told me that he is one of the best heart surgeons in history. I have always found him to be highly analytical and to possess a good sense of humor.

Dr. Oz spends a lot of time with President Donald Trump these days as they travel to and attend events together. He told me recently on my show that he is struck by how clever and funny the president is and how he doesn’t actually have a bad diet.

Here are five things that struck me about the president’s diet following our recent conversation.

On Diet Coke

Last week, the news media excoriated President Trump for supposedly saying that Diet Coke kills cancer cells. It is no secret that the president drinks a lot of diet soda, but it is less well known what he thinks about its properties.

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Here’s what Dr. Oz said to me in an interview for my show, "Doctor Radio Reports," on SiriusXM. "We sometimes travel together, and so I was joking with his son about something his son knows very well, which is that his father is very clever. He will deal with your chastising him or disagreeing with him in a humorous way. I was giving him a little bit of grief for drinking diet soda, and he said, ‘What are you talking about? This stuff will kill grass. That’s why I think it probably kills cancer cells.’ It was a joke. Obviously, no one is going to argue that diet soda has that impact. It’s humorous that people don’t have a sense of humor. Nothing about that comment is dangerous or harmful. I think most folks took it in the right spirit."

On Trump’s Sense of Humor

Clearly, not everyone took the president’s "kills grass" comment in the right spirit, and many in the news media used it as yet another platform to attack Trump. But Dr. Oz’s comment to me — that it’s humorous that people don’t have a sense of humor — is also noteworthy, because humor is good for your health, even if diet soda isn’t (I don’t think it can kill grass, but it definitely isn’t healthy).

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Humor, on the other hand, is very healthy because it decreases stress and stress hormones (epinephrine and norepinephrine), which strain the heart, and can improve mood. Humor also releases feel-good hormones, including oxytocin, which improves bonding and lowers blood pressure. https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/healthy-aging/the-health-benefits-of-humor/

On Trump’s Cognitive Ability

Dr. Oz told me he is impressed with the president’s focus on the job at hand and his drive to accomplish things. Oz said, "The president is remarkably strong in his ability to get things done. He calls at all hours, he’s focused on this job. It’s wanting to do this job well that keeps him so energized."

In fact, highly skilled, cognitively demanding jobs with high decision-making authority are associated with a lower risk of dementia. The president often comments about how well he performs on repeated cognitive tests, and he appears articulate and engaged, which doesn’t keep the media from speculating excessively.

On Trump’s Diet and Fast Food

Dr. Oz made the point that President Trump’s diet is much better than people may think while he’s at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, but that on the road — and, of course, he travels frequently — he has fewer options, so he turns to fast food because he knows it has to meet a certain standard and will be well-prepared.

Dr. Oz said to me during the interview, "Sometimes he eats junky food. He says this to me, and others have heard this as well, [that] when he’s on the road his main goal is to not get sick from a meal that’s not well-prepared. Going to the larger chain fast-food joints allows him to buy food that’s very standardized, very safe, and allows him to keep going at full speed. When he eats on his own, back at Mar-a-Lago or the White House, he eats plenty of healthy foods that he has access to and that he generally consumes. I don’t think it’s fair to say that he has a ‘bad diet.’ But he’s on the road a lot, and sometimes when you are on the road you can’t pick the meals you want to have — you have to eat what you can get."

There is some truth to what Dr. Oz is saying here. Overall, foodborne illness is more prevalent in restaurants than in fast-food chains. And a study released in 2017 by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania found that chain restaurants committed an average of around six violations per inspection, compared to an average of nine for non-chain locations.

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Of course, this approach ignores the MAHA movement’s focus on ultra-processed foods as a likely cause of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain kinds of cancer.

On Trump’s Exercise and Sleep

Dr. Oz didn’t get into this directly during our interview on SiriusXM, but "calling at all hours" likely means the president is not getting enough sleep. Less than seven hours of sleep per night has been linked to poorer health, and it is unlikely that the president sleeps nearly that much. And though he is a great golfer, and golf is an excellent form of relaxation and exercise, he could probably get even more of his necessary exercise if he played without the golf cart.

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On the other hand, President Trump’s blood pressure has repeatedly been shown to be normal, and his cholesterol is well managed with medication.

According to his physicians, his physicals have all been completely normal, which is especially impressive for a 79-year-old. While some might not wish the president well, Dr. Oz’s insights paint a reassuring picture. But please, go easy on the aspirin, Mr. President.

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Steak 'n Shake taps MAHA officer as fast-food chain joins RFK Jr's push to overhaul American diet

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 19:50:33 -0400

Steak 'n Shake has tapped its first-ever chief MAHA officer, marking a new step in the fast-food chain's push toward what it describes as healthier, more transparent ingredients.

Michael Boes will take on the new executive role, which is "dedicated to advancing nutritional integrity, ingredient transparency and the healthiness of our products," the Indianapolis-based company announced Tuesday on social media.

The move aligns with the brand's broader embrace of Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

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Boes previously served as a senior advisor at the HHS.

He worked on health care policy and strategic initiatives, according to a post on LinkedIn.

"During my time serving Sec. Kennedy, I had countless conversations with industry partners about returning to real food," Boes said in a post on Tuesday.

"Time and again, I heard the same hesitation: 'Our customers aren't demanding this.' Steak 'n Shake challenged that narrative — and growth followed.

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Fast food doesn't have to mean processed, complicated or artificial. It used to mean real, simple and delicious — and it can again."

He said he looks forward to "helping drive the next chapter of growth on that foundation."

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Steak 'n Shake framed the hire as part of a larger effort to return to its roots.

"The move marks a major step in the company's efforts to restore the original spirit of American fast food: food that is simple, real and delicious," the company said in its X post.

"Customers should never have to choose between taste and health," Boes was quoted as saying in the company's post.

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President Donald Trump shared the company's X post, adding one simple word of praise for the move: "Awesome."

In recent months, the chain has switched to cooking fries, tater tots and other fried items in 100% beef tallow, eliminating seed oils from those products, Fox News Digital previously reported.

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"We RFK'd our fries," a company executive previously said of the shift to beef tallow from vegetable oil.

The company has also said it's working with suppliers to remove seed oils more broadly, calling the transition "a journey" on its website.

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Other updates include the use of 100% Wisconsin butter in place of seed oils, offering cane sugar Coca-Cola as an alternative to high-fructose corn syrup and switching to a2 milk products (using a type of cow's milk that may be easier for some people to digest).

Steak 'n Shake has also reportedly indicated plans to move toward grass-fed beef and removing microwaves from kitchens in favor of more traditional cooking methods.

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ

Some of the company's changes have sparked debate, particularly over its use of beef tallow, which is fat rendered from cows.

While some customers praise the move as a return to "authentic" cooking, others have questioned whether switching frying fats actually makes fast food any healthier.

Fox News Digital reached out to Steak 'n Shake and the HHS for comment.

MARY KATHARINE HAM: Republicans have a huge MAHA opportunity in 2026 — if they don’t blow it

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 05:00:09 -0400

It’s election year, and in a midterm year, sometimes holding a coalition together can feel as tough as getting your family through spring sports, spring musicals, spring break and spring allergies all at once. This is where Republicans can take some advice and inspiration from the very suburban parent voters whose support they need in key districts this fall.

As someone who’s spent years talking to center-right women, I can tell you this: health and wellness are not niche issues. They’re not "woo-woo" or fringe. They’re kitchen-table, group-text, grocery-aisle stuff. It’s what moms are talking about while swapping tips about sleep, anxiety and the cleanest snacks they can find for their toddlers.

The MAHA movement, championed by figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and embraced rhetorically by President Donald Trump, taps into something real that appeals to people across income, racial and party lines: Americans are exhausted by chronic disease, ultra-processed food and rising childhood obesity. A broad spectrum of parents is also concerned about increased screen time, social media use and their effects on children’s mental health.

Women — especially moms — are often the chief health officers of their households. They are looking for leaders who acknowledge that something is off and are willing to challenge entrenched interests, which moms often suspect are making their health choices harder.

GOVERNMENT SAYS 'EAT BETTER' BUT MAKES IT HARDER TO FEED YOUR FAMILY

That’s the opportunity. Along with them, I’ve moved from trust in institutions to skepticism. I’ve been burned by big promises and become more concerned about having options that serve my family by being preventive instead of reactive.

A 2025 KFF/Washington Post poll found that more than 80% of parents, both MAHA and nonaligned, agree on the need for change and transparency on additives, highly processed foods and sugar content. A whopping 75% of parents ranked social media use as a major threat to children’s health and have led to a sea change in support for practical solutions, like cellphone bans in schools. Those parental priorities are reflected in the MAHA Commission Report, released in 2025, which covers them all. It was a welcome change from the surgeon general’s report on youth mental health during the Biden administration in 2021, which managed to reduce school closures and increased screen time required by those closures to a literal footnote.

Republicans who frame MAHA around these concerns — and around empowering families to solve them by giving parents better information, improving food quality, supporting maternal health, investing in metabolic health and encouraging transparency — can build a coalition that includes suburban women who may not agree with the GOP on every issue but desperately want a culture shift around health.

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And it’s not just words, but actions. An expansion of Health Savings Accounts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act allows millions more Americans to use their own money for their own decisions, tax-free, and to put it toward primary care and telehealth. Congressional Republicans also required more price transparency from benefits managers as a tool for bringing down drug prices.

But here’s where the danger creeps in.

When the conversation turns to limiting access to common medications like Tylenol during pregnancy, broadly casting doubt on vaccines or heavy-handed censorship of healthcare information through avenues like drug ads, which creates speech concerns, the political calculus changes — fast.

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One reason President Trump had such a strong coalition in 2024 was the response to overreach during the pandemic — with an administration that believed it knew better than I did what was good for my kids. But if MAHA means simply substituting RFK’s personal pet views on things like vaccines and pharmaceutical ads for Dr. Anthony Fauci’s, then we’re not solving the problem.

Voters distinguish between "We want more transparency and safety data" and "We want to make it harder for you to access routine care." The latter sounds destabilizing, and when it comes to health issues, the Affordable Care Act gave them enough of that to last a generation.

There’s also a deeper risk: conflating skepticism with cynicism.

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Many voters want reform because institutions have lost their trust. I’m one of them. But they don’t want to burn those institutions down. Democrats held a 20-point edge on the issue of education for generations, but long-term school closures by politically motivated school boards and unions gave Republicans a chance to peel off some of those voters with commonsense, concrete approaches as simple as opening schools and unmasking toddlers. Healthcare is another perennial Democratic strong suit, but bad pandemic policies degraded trust and gave Republicans a shot at these voters in 2024.

To keep these voters, keep it commonsense and concrete. For instance, where education and health intersect — kids, school and screen time — it has become a bipartisan no-brainer, as 38 states have enacted some kind of screen limitation in schools, with Republican-led states like Florida, Indiana and Virginia under former Gov. Glenn Youngkin leading the charge.

Polling shows that, even in the MAHA coalition, support for routine vaccines like MMR is high, while skepticism remains about COVID and flu vaccines, or their timing, which these voters put in a different category. Their thinking, like the coalition itself, is not simple or monolithic. They want improvements, guardrails and accountability, but get nervous about sweeping restrictions that feel like experimentation.

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And it doesn’t hurt to have the food pyramid finally catch up with common sense in a concrete and beautifully designed graphic that inverts the bad advice of yore. I knew at 12 years old that 11 carb servings wasn’t a great idea. More Eat Real Food, less RFK and Kid Rock in a cold plunge, is where you find persuadable voters.

The MAHA coalition includes a range of voices — some mainstream reformers, some longtime skeptics of pharmaceutical companies and some who have made a career out of questioning vaccines and established medical consensus. Republicans heading into a midterm year have to decide which lane they’re running in.

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It can absolutely be a blessing. It broadens the party’s appeal, especially with women who want a healthier country for their kids.

Midterms are decided in the margins, by addition, not subtraction. They’re decided by voters who may like parts of the Republican economic message but still worry about cultural turbulence or instability. If Democrats are able to run ads accusing Republicans of threatening access to vaccines, pain relievers or basic healthcare information, that errant pitch will not stay confined to cable news debates. It will land in the T-ball stands on Saturday mornings.

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Doctors in training learn cooking skills to help patients amid America's chronic disease crisis

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 08:00:16 -0400

Future doctors at some medical schools are learning more than anatomy, pathology and pharmacology these days. They're learning to cook healthy foods patients will actually want to eat.

The training is part of a growing field called culinary medicine, which blends cooking skills with nutrition education. It's gaining momentum at medical schools nationwide, The New York Times recently reported, with schools like Tufts University launching courses in 2025.

In many programs, that means stepping into a kitchen and learning to prepare meals firsthand, not just studying nutrition from a distance.

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"It's combining the culinary arts with evidence-based medicine and educational techniques to teach nutrition in a way that young doctors and other health care professionals can use in counseling and talking to patients," Dr. Ron Quinton, medical director of Tulane University’s Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine in New Orleans, told Fox News Digital.

Rising rates of diet-related diseases, including diabetes, obesity and heart disease, are fueling demand for more nutrition-focused care, experts say.

"Most people are eating the standard American diet, which is high in saturated fat, high in sugar, high in salt," Quinton added. "There are at least 13 obesity-related cancers that are directly diet-related," he noted.

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At Tulane’s School of Medicine, students work through mock patient cases before heading into the Goldring Center's teaching kitchen — one of the nation’s first, established in 2012 — to prepare healthy, flavorful and affordable meals.

"We don’t want to make bland food," Quinton said.

They also don't want patients thinking they must overhaul their diets overnight, he said.

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"Our first goal is to add things to their diet," he said. "We’re not trying to take things away."

One of the first cooking lessons Tulane students get, meanwhile, is about a familiar favorite: tacos. Quinton said the program adds more vegetables than traditional versions and uses homemade, low-sodium seasoning.

"A big part of our teaching is substituting things for what we consider bad for you — the sugar, the salt — and putting spices and other things in so the food tastes just as good," Quinton said.

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Jordan Lo, a fourth-year Tulane medical student planning to pursue neurosurgery, said the teaching kitchen has given him tools he already uses when talking with patients during clinical rotations.

"Patients ask me, 'How can I eat healthier? Where can I go to get better recipes?'" Lo said.

Understanding nutrition can benefit doctors in any specialty, particularly in preventing conditions such as stroke linked to diet, he said. "Knowing about food and culinary medicine and how it affects your patients just overall makes you a better doctor."

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He said the hands-on classes show students how to make healthier meals feel doable at home.

Students learn simple tips — like prepping ingredients and using small bowls to stay organized — that they can pass on to patients.

The kitchen lessons also challenge assumptions about what "healthy" food looks like.

Lo said one surprising recipe was a dark chocolate mousse made mostly with avocado. Quinton pointed to black and white bean brownies as desserts that deliver more fiber with less fat than traditional versions, adding that they're favorites of his grandkids.

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More than 60 medical, nursing and residency programs now use versions of Tulane’s curriculum, with newer programs emerging at schools like Tufts University as part of a broader "food is medicine" movement.

Tufts launched a course in 2025 that brings together medical, dental and nutrition students to learn in partnership with Community Servings, a nonprofit that provides medically tailored meals to people with serious and chronic illnesses.

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Eliza Leone, a registered dietitian nutritionist and instructor in the program, said the training focuses on turning nutrition advice into practical guidance for patients.

"What's more meaningful than telling your patient, 'You should eat more calcium,' is saying, 'Here are a few recipes that incorporate calcium,'" she told Fox News Digital.

Research shows doctors are more likely to encourage healthy eating habits when they practice those behaviors themselves, Leone noted.

"You can't have nutrition without food, so you have to know how to make food that tastes good and also meets your nutritional needs," she said.

Interest in culinary medicine is growing, Leone said, as more students seek hands-on nutrition training and schools respond by expanding programs.

Quinton agreed the trend is here to stay, as more doctors shift toward preventing disease rather than reacting to it.

Christina Economos, dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts, said diet is a primary driver of preventable disease.

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"Teaching culinary medicine is closing what's been a long-standing gap between what clinicians know about healthy eating and what they can practically do to help patients," she said.

"We're a society that treats sick people, and our system is set up to treat once someone is ill," she added, noting the importance of focusing more on prevention.

Trump taps former deputy surgeon general to helm CDC

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:41:00 -0400

President Donald Trump announced that he is nominating Dr. Erica Schwartz to helm the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"I am pleased to announce the new leadership of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is my Honor to nominate the incredibly talented Dr. Erica Schwartz, MD, JD, MPH, as my Director of the CDC," the president declared in a Thursday Truth Social post.

"Erica graduated from Brown University for College and Medical School, and served a distinguished career as a Doctor of Medicine in the United States Military, the Greatest and Most Powerful Force in the World, and then served as my Deputy Surgeon General during my First Term. She is a STAR!" he continued.

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Schwartz served in the role of deputy surgeon general during part of the first Trump administration until early in the Biden administration, according to material posted on the website of Butterfly Network Inc., which indicates that she is on its board of directors.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thanked the president for tapping Schwartz for the CDC role.

"Thank you, President Trump, for nominating Dr. Erica Schwartz to serve as CDC Director. I congratulate Dr. Schwartz and the new CDC leadership team. I look forward to working together to restore trust, accountability, and scientific integrity at the @CDCgov so we can return it to its core mission and Make America Healthy Again," Kennedy declared in a post on X.

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The Senate will need to confirm Schwartz to serve in the role.

Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said in a post on X, "Dr. Erica Schwartz will be a great CDC Director. Under Joe Biden, the CDC was a disaster. I have no doubt that Dr. Schwartz will ensure the CDC is 100% focused on making Americans HEALTHY again. I look forward to voting to confirm her soon."

Trump also added in his Truth Social post, "I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Sean Slovenski as the CDC Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH, as the CDC Deputy Director and Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner, MD, MPH, as Senior Counselor for Public Health to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr."

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"These Highly Respected Doctors of Medicine have the knowledge, experience, and TOP degrees to restore the GOLD STANDARD OF SCIENCE at the CDC, which was an absolute disaster focused on "mandates" under Sleepy Joe. Together, they will do a TREMENDOUS job leading the CDC as we continue to MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AND GREAT AGAIN!" he declared.

Peptides may soon be easier to get amid RFK Jr.'s push, but experts warn of risks

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:48:50 -0400

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will reportedly weigh easing restrictions on peptides in anticipated talks.

The meeting, which is expected to be held in July, will discuss relaxing limits on more than a half dozen peptide injections.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the building blocks of proteins — that play key roles in biological functions, according to the National Institutes of Health. Peptide drugs are lab-made versions of natural molecules in the body that are designed to mimic or influence biological signals to treat disease, experts say.

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In a federal notice released Wednesday, the FDA identified these drugs — used for conditions ranging from insomnia to obesity — for potential inclusion on a list of substances that can be safely compounded by pharmacies.

This follows Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to deregulate peptides, which he’s spoken about publicly, although most peptides have not been reviewed for safety by the FDA.

Kennedy has discussed using the substances for personal injuries. In a recent interview on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, he stated that he’s a "big fan of peptides."

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The HHS secretary mentioned that he’s "very anxious" to making some peptides "more accessible."

"My hope is that they will get moved to a place where people have access from ethical suppliers," Kennedy said, alluding to the FDA taking action.

What to know about peptides

Peptides have gained popularity among wellness influencers and fitness gurus as a means of building muscle, healing injuries or appearing younger, the AP reported.

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Peptides act like a signal to hormones and the human body. Similar to how GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists), such as Ozempic, suppress appetite and trigger weight loss, peptides can signal other functions, like the release of growth hormones.

Certain peptides up for review by the FDA, like BPC-157, are marketed for tendon healing, gut healing (in cases like ulcerative colitis), injury recovery and inflammation reduction, although the FDA has warned about the risk of unapproved peptide treatments.

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The FDA wrote in a February advisory that "compounded drugs should only be used in patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug."

"Patients should obtain a prescription from their doctor and fill the prescription at a state-licensed pharmacy," the agency wrote.

The current peptide market has been referred to as the "Wild West" due to lack of regulation. In an interview with AP, Dr. Peter Lurie, a former FDA official who now leads the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C., commented that "the Wild West is about to become wilder."

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"I don’t see why one would take the path of proper drug approval if there is now this less rigorous, alternative path to market," he said.

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Under the Biden administration, the FDA added nearly 20 peptides to a list of substances that should not be produced by compounding pharmacies, according to the AP.

The panel of pharmacy advisers at the time noted that the peptides did not meet criteria for safety.

Food that never expires? Nut-free pesto founder with severe allergy says that's the real problem

Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:20 -0400

A New York City entrepreneur is on a mission to change how Americans think about what's sitting in their refrigerators — and what shouldn't be sitting in their pantries.

"I take pride that Besto is perishable," said Kaureen Randhawa, founder of the nut-free pesto brand that launched in the summer of 2024.

"It does go bad," Randhawa, 27, told Fox News Digital. "It needs to be refrigerated, because it is a fresh-ingredient product. . . . It's cool for food to go bad. Food is fresh. It should be going bad. It shouldn't be lasting me during three hurricanes in my pantry."

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Randhawa's journey to becoming the Besto boss started in childhood out of necessity.

Diagnosed with a severe nut allergy as an infant while living in Florida, she grew up navigating foods that many take for granted.

"That's an allergy I never outgrew," she said, sharing that pesto — traditionally made with pine nuts — was always off-limits unless her mother made it from scratch.

That homemade workaround would later become the foundation for her business.

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"My mom is an amazing cook," Randhawa said. "She would make for me a nut-free pesto."

Years later, while attending the University of Florida, Randhawa began experimenting with that recipe.

"I got really into my health and wellness at college," she said, recalling how she modified the traditional recipe by adding apple cider vinegar and swapping in spinach.

The result, she said, was "this green, better-for-you sauce that tastes just like pesto."

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After graduating and moving to New York for a corporate job at Estée Lauder, Randhawa continued making her pesto for everyday use at home and work — until her friend's husband, who is involved in the "food scene down in Miami," called her. He had just tried a jar she left in their fridge during a visit.

His message to her was, "I think you're onto something," she recalled.

From there, Besto was born in her 506-square-foot apartment.

Randhawa began fulfilling orders herself, sourcing ingredients from local stores and handing off jars in Manhattan parks during her lunch break.

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Today, Besto ships nationwide and is stocked in about 60 stores across 17 states, appealing not just to allergy-conscious consumers but also to health-focused shoppers.

Randhawa said she believes the brand's rapid growth reflects a broader shift in how Americans approach food — one increasingly driven by transparency and ingredient awareness.

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"Now when a consumer picks up such a simple product like ketchup or mayo, or if it's pesto, we now read the labels, because we see all the junk that's in it," she said.

That mindset aligns with a growing movement toward cleaner, less-processed foods — and a rejection of ultra-long shelf life as a selling point, she said, noting the "tons of shelf-stable pestos" at the grocery store.

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"But those pestos aren't pestos I ever wanted to buy," she said.

"They don't taste fresh."

While Besto began as a solution for people with nut allergies like hers, Randhawa said it's "just a good-tasting pesto."

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"If something tastes good, anyone would want to eat it," she said.

Fitness guru Jillian Michaels opens up about skipping school for Taco Bell runs during food addiction

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:59:27 -0400

Fitness guru Jillian Michaels opened up about her prior food addiction on the "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, saying she continued to use food for comfort even while trying to lose weight.

"I will never forget it," Michaels said.

"I would skip school [and] go to the Taco Bell drive-thru. When I was even still taking the weight off, I would still utilize food for comfort."

In the episode, which dropped Thursday, Michaels described food as "probably the only addiction I’ve struggled with in my life."

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She even recalled her go-to Taco Bell order from that time.

"Two bean and cheese burritos with no onions and extra cheese, a Taco Supreme and a Diet Coke," Michaels said, laughing about the irony of the latter. She added that she still remembers it years later.

Michaels has been open about her journey to health and wellness in the past, frequently sharing how her early struggles with weight shaped her approach to fitness.

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She went on to become a household name as a trainer on NBC’s "The Biggest Loser," known for her tough approach that emphasized discipline and accountability.

She has since built a career around promoting disciplined exercise and nutrition through books, programs and media appearances and has been a proponent of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.

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Michaels has frequently highlighted highly processed foods as a driving factor in America's chronic disease epidemic and the obesity crisis, telling Fox News Digital in a recent interview that four of the biggest lobbies in the country — "Big Ag, Big Food, Big Pharma, Big Insurance" — are standing in the way of broader success.

Chocolate, cheese and yogurt linked to longer life in detailed study of 3 million people

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:00:54 -0400

A new large-scale study suggests that yogurt, cheese and even chocolate could help people live longer.

The analysis found that certain fermented and fermentation-derived foods may be associated with a lower risk of death, according to a study published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

Researchers analyzed data from 50 studies involving more than 3 million people to examine how these foods — made using beneficial microbes like bacteria or yeast — are linked to overall mortality risk, as well as deaths from heart disease and cancer.

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"Higher consumption of chocolate, cheese and fermented milks (including yogurt) was associated with lower all-cause and CVD mortality," the researchers wrote in their paper.

While cheese intake was linked to a slight reduction in all-cause mortality, associations with heart disease and cancer deaths were less consistent, they noted.

Chocolate, which is derived from fermented cacao beans, was also associated with a lower risk of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, the researchers reported.

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But not all foods in the fermented category showed the same results.

Items like miso, a fermented soybean paste, and fermented bread, such as sourdough, did not show consistent links to reduced mortality.

The potential benefits seen in foods like yogurt and fermented milk may be tied to their impact on gut health, as these foods can contain beneficial bacteria and compounds that influence inflammation, metabolism and immune function, the study noted.

Chocolate's potential effects could be linked to cocoa's polyphenols — plant compounds that may support heart health by improving blood vessel function and reducing oxidative stress.

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"Fermentation is one of the oldest food processing methods and remains central to human diets worldwide," the researchers said.

Besides helping to preserve food, fermentation produces compounds and byproducts that can benefit health, connecting fermented foods to possible long-term protection against disease and death, they noted.

They said their work was the first meta-analysis to take a comprehensive look at how fermented food consumption is linked to mortality.

But choosing the right kinds of fermented foods matters, experts say.

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"For the most beneficial fermented foods, look for foods that contain 'live active cultures' that are refrigerated," said Robin DeCicco, a New York-based certified holistic nutritionist who was not involved in the study. "These are usually better than foods that are heavily processed and shelf-stable."

She noted that options like yogurt and kefir are typically refrigerated and offer a wide range of probiotic cultures.

Other good choices include tempeh, refrigerated pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi, DeCicco said, though she cautioned that some fermented foods are high in sodium and may not be suitable for those with high blood pressure.

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"Many yogurts, kefirs and kombucha brands use added sugar, making the seemingly 'health food' a very high-sugar food — defeating the whole purpose," DeCicco added.

The researchers also emphasized that the findings are based on observational data, meaning they can show links but not cause and effect.

Dietary patterns, lifestyle factors and overall health behaviors may also play a role in the observed outcomes, even when studies attempt to adjust for these variables.

The analysis also found variation across studies, likely due to differences in populations, dietary habits and how foods were processed or consumed.

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The researchers noted that more rigorous studies, including clinical trials, are needed to better understand whether these foods directly contribute to longer life.

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Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.

Hospital food under fire as experts warn meals are harming America’s sickest patients

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 15:00:14 -0400

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing to expand the Dietary Guidelines for Americans into hospitals, integrating federal nutrition standards into patient care.

On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), led by Dr. Mehmet Oz, sent a memo directing hospitals to align their meals with the guidelines by reducing ultraprocessed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates and added sugars.

Kennedy reportedly shared that Oz’s memo effectively acts like a federal mandate, as hospitals may need to follow the dietary guidelines to maintain funding.

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Most hospital menus rely heavily on convenience foods, according to Dr. Hamid Khan, chief medical officer of Jorie AI, a healthcare revenue service.

"Patients are often served items such as pasta, processed deli meats, packaged snacks with artificial components, sugary desserts, cereals, juice and soda," he told Fox News Digital.

"Although many hospitals have begun the implementation of 'healthier options,' the average menu still tends to prioritize low cost, long shelf life and ease of preparation over nutrition."

Larger concerns include high sugar and sodium levels, processed ingredients and refined carbohydrates in hospital foods, Khan said. "There seems to be a lack of high-quality protein, fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy fats," he added.

Khan said he has seen patients order their meals from Grubhub, DoorDash or Uber Eats because they felt the hospital menu options were not healthy enough.

"Most of the hospital meals do not provide adequate nutrients … to properly support healing, muscle maintenance, immunity or overall recovery," he told Fox News Digital.

"Poor nutrition only makes things worse for this patient pool," Khan went on. "Ultimately, poor nutrition is very harmful for elderly patients and people with chronic illnesses. They are at a higher risk for muscle loss, weakness, delayed healing, infection and re-infection."

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Geoffrey Zakarian is partnering with Tampa General Hospital in Florida to transform hospital dining, introducing Mediterranean diet–inspired meals for patients.

Zakarian told Fox News Digital that hospital food is often a mix of "high desire, low-value and low-nutrition food," typically priced to meet a strict per-plate cost that hospitals cannot exceed.

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"[There is] very little emphasis on original, pasture-raised proteins and fats like eggs, whole dairy grass-fed beef and poultry, and unprocessed vegetables," he said.

In Tampa, Zakarian has been working since 2023 to eliminate all processed foods — removing items containing hormones, added sugars, seed oils and anything prepackaged.

"All the food originates from farms and gardens in and around Tampa," he said, calling the mission "Farm to Gurney."

Sec. Kennedy and CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced a similar initiative at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami.

Vani Hari, known as the "Food Babe," told Fox News Digital that this is the first time leaders in Washington are openly acknowledging that food is medicine.

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"The fact that they had to send a memo reminding hospitals of that tells you everything about how broken the system is," said Hari, who is based in North Carolina. "People are at their most vulnerable in a hospital bed – and for decades, nobody in charge seemed to care what they were eating."

Medicare and Medicaid fund the majority of inpatient services, including at least half of inpatient days at 96% of hospitals and two-thirds or more at 80% of hospitals, according to the American Hospital Association (AHA).

An AHA spokesperson told Fox News Digital that hospitals recognize nutritious food is an essential part of healing and recovery.

"They are deeply committed to providing patients with high‑quality, nutritious meals that meet clinical standards, individual dietary needs and federal guidance," said the spokesperson.

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Hospital teams collaborate with registered dietitians and clinical staff to make sure each patient receives meals tailored to their medical needs and recovery plan, according to the AHA.

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The spokesperson also said the organization regularly evaluates current evidence-based nutrition recommendations and integrates them into meal programs.

"Beyond the hospital walls, we partner with community organizations to expand access to nutritious food, provide education on healthy eating, and support initiatives that promote long‑term wellness," they added.

RFK Jr, EPA chief 'declare war' on microplastics amid growing evidence of health risks

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 12:43:48 -0400

Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin are declaring a war on microplastics.

These tiny bits of plastic, which are less than 5 mm in size, can persist in our environment for hundreds or thousands of years. They may also build up in our bodies, our hearts and our brains, causing untold damage.

For the first time, the EPA is adding microplastics and pharmaceuticals to its Contaminant Candidate List for drinking water, which will help to prioritize funding and pave the way for potential future regulation involving Congress.

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HHS is also launching the Systematic Targeting of Microplastics — or STOMP — to study how microplastics accumulate in the body.

Kennedy spoke with Fox News in an exclusive interview accompanying the EPA/HHS announcement.

"We do not have the science that distinguishes between the impacts of these different types of plastics, and maybe if we identify those impacts, the damaging ones can be immediately eliminated, because you can replace them with something else," he said.

"Our job — and we are really at the limit of our power right now — is to try to answer those questions before we take another action."

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Kennedy pointed to emerging science suggesting microplastics’ direct impacts on public health.

"Some of them may be benign – others are very, very harmful," he warned. "The science shows if they cause inflammation, they cause oxidative stress."

"As a body, they are endocrine disruptors, so they interfere with fertility," he added.

As emerging research suggests a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and neurodegenerative disease when microplastics are present at the cellular level, "the time to act is now," according to Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a professor of pediatrics and population health at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

During a panel accompanying the announcement, Trasande compared the issue to efforts to reduce lead exposure in the 1970s, when the government took action as soon as the danger was identified, even before all research was complete.

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Kennedy, who has a long history of fighting chemicals in the environment, blames big businesses for causing the problem and wants them to clean it up. "That’s a lesson we are all supposed to have learned at kindergarten – that you clean up after yourself, you don’t force the public to do it."

The same approach applies to pharmaceuticals that make their way into the environment, he noted.

"Particularly for our children, it's very alarming. They are swimming around now in a toxic soup. It's coming from everywhere," Kennedy warned. "It's coming from their food. It's coming from agriculture. It's coming from the air and water, and it's coming from pharmaceutical drugs.

"Lee has directed his agency under President Trump to do this study so we can start regulating the discharge of these chemicals," he went on. "A lot of them you can remove through carbon technology and other technologies."

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Administrator Zeldin said he believes the fight against microplastics is a bipartisan issue. He is calling for more education and transparency when it comes to microplastics and public health, cautioning against the federal government proposing a one-size-fits-all solution.

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"You want to be able to get the answers, you want to see the gold-standard science," he said. "You demand radical transparency. You're looking through the website, and it's ignoring what you came to that web page to look for. I feel like there's a communication gap – and when there's a communication gap, there's a trust gap."

Zeldin and Kennedy have been working closely under President Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda and say they enjoy working together.

"There's no American in this country who can't get heard somehow by Secretary Kennedy, and it's just an honor to serve alongside him," Zeldin said.

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Kennedy added, "I like everybody in that Cabinet, but Lee and I work with particular closeness, and I've really enjoyed the relationship."

It is clear they would like this relationship to continue, even if their roles change. "You never know what’s going to happen," Kennedy said.

State pushes 'first in the nation' grocery label for highlighting non-ultra-processed foods

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:20:16 -0400

California consumers may soon see a new label on grocery shelves — one designed to highlight foods that are not ultra-processed.

Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel introduced the bill behind the proposal on Wednesday, according to a press release shared with Fox News Digital.

The legislation, AB 2244, would establish a "California Certified" seal that manufacturers could place on products that meet standards for not being ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

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The legislation would also require grocery stores to prominently display products bearing the seal in high-traffic areas, making it easier for consumers to find those items.

Gabriel's office described the seal as a "first-in-the-nation" label.

Not only would the seal allow shoppers to make more informed decisions, but it may also put some pressure on manufacturers to reformulate their products to qualify.

The bill defines ultra-processed foods as those containing certain additives, such as emulsifiers and preservatives, along with high levels of sugar, salt or fat.

"Parents shouldn’t need a Ph.D. in chemistry to understand what they’re feeding their kids," Gabriel said in the release.

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"While Washington, D.C., is paralyzed by inaction, California is stepping up to protect our kids and confront the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods."

Gabriel said he hopes to have the bill on Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk by late summer, according to STAT News.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, Gabriel said the bill "provides a market-based solution to address the dangers of ultra-processed foods."

He added, "[It] strengthens consumer choice, drives innovation and promotes healthier options across the food supply – without banning any products."

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Gabriel told Politico the bill is the "next logical step" in addressing ultra-processed foods in grocery stores.

"But we’re doing it in a way that strengthens consumer choice and encourages innovation," he added.

Though the definition of UPFs is debated, they're generally understood to be foods that undergo multiple industrial processes.

These processes make them "stabilized for consumption," Dr. Jeffrey Kraft, a bariatric surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Palisades Medical Center in New Jersey, previously told Fox News Digital.

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"Processed foods are not natural foods," he said. "They've gone through a factory or been chemically changed so they last longer on the shelf."

Kraft added, "They are almost always combined with other unhealthy things, like high fructose corn syrup, emulsifiers and hydrogenated oils."

The lack of a "clear universal standard" for what a UPF is "opens the door for bureaucrats to decide what's real," said California-based chef Andrew Gruel.

"I am all for transparency, and encourage it, but that should come from clear and honest ingredient labeling, not some pay-to-play subjective stamp that reduces foods into a government label," Gruel told Fox News Digital.

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He added, "I am confident this label will get hijacked by the large food manufacturers and Doritos will be considered a non-processed food by some weird definition, just like chips used to be labeled heart healthy."

Fox News Digital reached out to the Consumer Brands Association for comment.