• Yesterday, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, released its “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report outlining its priorities for improving the health of American children. President Trump requested the report in a February executive order establishing the MAHA Commission.  The report targets “ultra-processed foods” (UPFs), exposure to environmental chemicals (microplastics, pesticides), a decline in physical activity, and “overmedicalization” as some of the main drivers of an increase in childhood chronic diseases such as obesity and cancer. The MAHA Commission is set to issue further policy recommendations in August.
  • The report loosely defined UPFs as those that are high in added sugars, refined grains, unhealthy fats (such as seed oils), and sodium while low in fiber and essential nutrients. The report also identifies certain food additives, including food colorings (such as Red 40), titanium dioxide, propylparaben, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and artificial sweeteners (such as aspartame, sucralose, saccharin).
  • The report also criticizes the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) for not specifically addressing UPFs in its dietary recommendations and “remaining largely agnostic to how foods are produced or processed.” The report is also critical of the DGA and nutrition research at large claiming they are being improperly influenced by the food industry, citing an analysis that found $60 billion in industry funding for nutrition research, without acknowledging the significant cuts to research funding undertaken by the administration in the last several months. (Pages 30-32)
  • The report goes on to criticize other government programs. It claims that children who are Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants consume more unhealthy food and beverages than income-eligible non-participants, leading to worse health outcomes. The report further claims that the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) fails to limit UPF consumption and allows food companies to make minor ingredient adjustments to qualify their products for the Smart Snack program. (Pages 32-34)
  • Cumulative chemical exposure, increased use of technology, and overtreatment/overdiagnosis of common illnesses are all claimed to be drivers of chronic disease. The report calls for studies on the effect of cumulative exposure to chemicals including PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols, microplastics, fluoride, electromagnetic radiation, and crop protection tools (e.g., pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides).  (Pages 43-44)
  • The report made a single reference to GRAS Oversight reform, recommending that independent studies are funded to evaluate “the health impact of self-affirmed GRAS food ingredients.” (Page 72)