VIDEO: RFK Jr. SLAMS Big Food Poison Plot

RFK giving a speech. — RFK JR. SLAMS BIG FOOD

RFK Jr. vows FDA action against the GRAS loophole that lets Big Food poison Americans with ultra-processed junk, delivering a long-overdue win for families battered by obesity and diabetes epidemics.

See the video in the tweet below.

Story Highlights

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces FDA will act on citizen petition to reexamine GRAS status for high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and refined flours in ultra-processed foods.
Petition by former FDA Commissioner David Kessler targets ingredients linked to soaring rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, exploiting a 1958 self-regulation loophole.
New 2026 federal Dietary Guidelines issue first-ever warning against ultra-processed foods, aligning with the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative.
Ultra-processed foods account for over 50% of U.S. caloric intake, fueling the chronic disease crisis while industry lobbyists defend the status quo.
Promises consumer empowerment through information while avoiding heavy-handed regulation, in line with conservative principles of limited government.

Kennedy Commits FDA to GRAS Review

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that the FDA will act on a citizen petition filed by former FDA Commissioner David Kessler.

The petition demands a reexamination of the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status of key ingredients in ultra-processed foods, including high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, and refined flours.

These components contribute to America’s obesity and diabetes epidemics, which have ravaged families for decades under lax oversight. Kennedy criticized the GRAS process as hijacked by industry and questioned the questions the FDA should have asked long ago.

This move supports President Trump’s commitment to health reforms without overreaching into markets.

RFK Jr. says, “There is no way for any American to know if a product is safe if it is ultraprocessed.” He is targeting the GRAS exemption that allows food companies to independently verify the safety of ingredients with no government oversight if they are generally recognized by… pic.twitter.com/tsWFzV5ngR

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) February 16, 2026

GRAS Loophole Roots in 1958 Law

Congress enacted the GRAS exemption in 1958 through the Food Additives Amendment, allowing food companies to self-verify ingredient safety via expert consensus without pre-market FDA approval.

This led to 4,000-10,000 untracked ingredients flooding U.S. foods. Ultra-processed foods now account for more than 50% of caloric intake, according to 2021-2023 CDC data, driving type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

Kessler’s 2025 petition argues GRAS affirmations for refined carbohydrates rely on outdated data, comparing the crisis to his 1990s tobacco fight. Kennedy’s October 2025 directive already ordered the FDA to reassess all GRAS affirmations.

Trump Administration Backs MAHA Initiative

Kennedy leads the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) push, announcing in January 2026 that the federal Dietary Guidelines would warn against ultra-processed foods such as sodas and snacks for the first time.

This follows his September 2024 roundtable, during which he blamed food chemicals for child health issues and criticized U.S. additives that are banned in Europe.

The FDA issued an interim response to Kessler’s petition last week, past the 180-day deadline, with no final decision. Kennedy emphasizes informing consumers rather than imposing direct bans, respecting individual liberty, and avoiding Biden-era regulatory excess. President Trump provides backing despite his history of anti-regulation.

Industry faces pressure amid a December 2025 San Francisco lawsuit against 10 manufacturers for marketing addictive products. A 2021 CDC-Brazil study confirms that higher ultra-processed food intake worsens heart health, bolstering calls for reform.

RFK Jr. says FDA will 'act on' petition to reexamine some ingredients in ultra-processed foods. https://t.co/6ew5w5remp

— Friedrich List (@simulator8) February 17, 2026

Industry Resistance and Path Forward

The Consumer Brands Association defends compliance with FDA standards and disputes the definition of ultra-processed food, claiming there is no scientific consensus.

Food manufacturers rely on GRAS to keep products affordable, but chronic disease data demand accountability. Short-term, GRAS reviews could prompt reformulations or improved labeling; long-term, a shift to whole foods could reduce obesity rates, especially among low-income families hooked on cheap junk.

This tests the Trump team’s deregulatory stance against health imperatives, prioritizing transparency for American families over corporate profits.

Kennedy rejects outright regulation, focusing on science-based reviews to empower informed choices—a common-sense approach conservatives applaud after years of government-enabled health sabotage.