Human biology is ill-equipped for ultraprocessed foods, former FDA head says
Summary
Two public health leaders, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler, warn that ultraprocessed foods harm Americans' health. They say a 67-year-old government rule lets food companies add many ingredients without full safety checks, contributing to obesity and chronic diseases.Key Facts
- Ultraprocessed foods now make up about 50% of the calories Americans eat and 60% of children's diets.
- The GRAS ("generally recognized as safe") rule from 1958 allows companies to add ingredients without thorough government review.
- Kennedy and Kessler say this rule has been exploited, leading to thousands of unregulated ingredients in U.S. food.
- Europe limits food ingredients to about 400, while the U.S. has between 4,000 and 10,000.
- More than 70% of Americans are overweight or obese, linked to poor nutrition and these ultraprocessed foods.
- Dr. Kessler compares the health impact of ultraprocessed food to the tobacco crisis in scale and urgency.
- New dietary guidelines now advise Americans to reduce ultraprocessed food consumption.
- Kennedy plans to seek approval to close the regulatory loophole that allows unregulated food ingredients.
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