Ultraprocessed Foods Fuel America's Health Crisis

Ultraprocessed foods constitute half of the average American's diet, leading to simultaneous obesity and malnutrition, according to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A 67-year-old "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) exemption, enacted in 1958, permits ingredient use with independent safety verification and no government oversight. Kennedy asserts this loophole has been "hijacked by the industry," allowing an estimated 4,000 to 10,000 ingredients into products without comprehensive safety reviews.

Food author Michael Pollan links the prevalence of these foods to decades of federal farm subsidies for corn and soy, which are transformed into commodity ingredients. Former FDA head Dr. David Kessler describes ultraprocessed foods as energy-dense and highly palatable, designed to trigger brain reward circuits and lead to overeating. He states these products have "altered our metabolism" and are a primary cause of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart attacks, and stroke.

Kessler is petitioning Kennedy to revoke GRAS status for dozens of refined carbohydrates and sweeteners unless companies can prove their safety. Kennedy intends to review GRAS ingredients using "gold standard science" and acknowledged this stance challenges powerful agriculture and food industries. Ten ultraprocessed food manufacturers are also facing a lawsuit alleging they knowingly engineered addictive products and hid risks, contributing to a public health crisis.