Food reform has long been a part of public health discussions, but it may be politically and bureaucratically unrealistic, some experts said.
“It’s a much more complex issue than he realizes,” Dr. Lurie said. “This is a real challenge and we will face industry opposition on all sides.”
For one thing, the FDA has no authority over “ultra-processed foods,” several former officials told the BBC.
Instead, they said, the process is more complicated. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA regulate the food industry. The FDA doesn’t make rules. The FDA carries out policies passed by Congress and works to limit unhealthy foods by strengthening restrictions and labeling for certain nutrients, such as sodium and saturated fat.
Kennedy’s comments “make for great political rhetoric,” Garner said. “In my opinion, I don’t see how this could be realized without radical changes in other policies and infrastructure.”
He will also face industry backlash over proposals to ban pesticides and genetically modified organisms commonly used by U.S. farmers, a former FDA official said.
“Companies are going to complain,” said Rosalie Lijinsky, an FDA official for 33 years.
The industry is accustomed to limited oversight from both Democrats and Republicans, including during Trump’s first term, but many of Kennedy’s goals require much more rulemaking.
Several food industry groups met with lawmakers to lobby against Kennedy before his appointment this month, Politico reported last month.
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said he planned to meet with Kennedy before his confirmation hearing this week and “spend a lot of time educating him about agriculture.”
Kennedy’s stance also puts him at odds with President-elect Trump, a longtime fast-food enthusiast who worked to roll back stricter health requirements for school lunches during his first term.
“You can get some ideas that make some sense, but these are exactly the kinds of things this government is hostile to,” Dr. Lurie said.
The Food Industry Association, which represents food retailers, producers and manufacturers such as General Mills, said in a statement to the BBC: “We want to ensure that food and drug policy continues to be based on science.” “I look forward to working with the team.” “Regulatory Complexity”.
Jeff Hutt, spokesman for the Make America Healthy Again political action committee, which is urging Republican lawmakers to confirm Kennedy, said industry dissatisfaction with Kennedy’s agenda was not surprising.
Mr. Hutt said the goal of the health movement was “to put America’s well-being ahead of corporate profits.”
“Even if the idea of banning ultra-processed foods is politically impossible, it’s a conversation we need to have,” he said.
