RFK Jr. Says Ultra-Processed Foods Are Poisoning Americans

Ultra-processed foods are back in the spotlight, and this time it’s coming from the top. During his Senate confirmation hearings, new U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called these foods a driving force behind America’s chronic disease crisis, especially for children. As reported by the Associated Press, Kennedy pledged to phase out ultra-processed foods from federal assistance programs like SNAP, saying they’re “poisoning” the nation.

Ultra-processed foods include the sugary cereals, packaged snacks, frozen pizzas, and soda that make up about 60% of the average American diet—and around two-thirds of what kids eat. They’re cheap, heavily marketed, and packed with additives and industrial ingredients you’d never find in a home kitchen. Even more concerning, these foods have been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, depression, and dementia.

While food manufacturers argue that processing helps extend shelf life and increase food safety, nutrition experts are worried. Dr. Neena Prasad of Bloomberg Philanthropies calls ultra-processed products “irresistibly delicious” and engineered to keep you eating. Studies Support this: one 2019 NIH trial found participants gained weight when eating ultra-processed foods—even when calorie counts matched unprocessed meals.

Critics like Prasad are pushing for real change, calling for taxes on sugary drinks and tighter restrictions on marketing junk food to kids. Still, others say we need clearer science before rewriting national food policy. But with the U.S. food supply dominated by ultra-processed options, waiting may not be the best choice.

If we want a healthier future, it starts with what’s on our plates. Let’s ditch the processed snacks and choose real, plant-based meals instead. Every fresh bite is a vote for animals, health, and the planet.

Video Source: CBS News/Youtube

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