Amanda Prestigiacomo

Rollins said that there's an effort underway to move more locally sourced foods into communities. She wants to make sure that we're providing the healthiest foods to our food banks and to our schools.

Rollins said that there's an effort underway to move more locally sourced foods into communities. She wants to make sure that we're providing the healthiest foods to our food banks and to our schools.

Yeah, well, one of the biggest updates came just last week when Kennedy announced that he's phasing out a number of artificial food dyes and colorings by the end of 2026. Specifically, he'll ban petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Red 3 and Red 40, Blue 1 and 2, Yellow 5 and 6, and Green 3.

Yeah, well, one of the biggest updates came just last week when Kennedy announced that he's phasing out a number of artificial food dyes and colorings by the end of 2026. Specifically, he'll ban petroleum-based synthetic dyes, including Red 3 and Red 40, Blue 1 and 2, Yellow 5 and 6, and Green 3.

Another huge development is the transformation of SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. Kennedy has made it clear that he doesn't want highly processed junk food being purchased with SNAP. And he's encouraging states to submit a waiver to the Department of Agriculture so they can limit SNAP purchases.

Another huge development is the transformation of SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. Kennedy has made it clear that he doesn't want highly processed junk food being purchased with SNAP. And he's encouraging states to submit a waiver to the Department of Agriculture so they can limit SNAP purchases.

Okay, a lot more on food, so we'll make this quick. Kennedy has also directed the FDA to revise a rule that used to allow companies to self-affirm the safety of some food ingredients. Under this new revision, manufacturers are going to have to publicly submit safety data for all new ingredients, so more oversight.

Okay, a lot more on food, so we'll make this quick. Kennedy has also directed the FDA to revise a rule that used to allow companies to self-affirm the safety of some food ingredients. Under this new revision, manufacturers are going to have to publicly submit safety data for all new ingredients, so more oversight.

The FDA also unveiled a tool back in March, and that's going to allow people to look up chemical contaminants in their food from a large database. You can find that on the FDA website. And one last note on food, RFK is tackling baby formula with Operation Stork.

The FDA also unveiled a tool back in March, and that's going to allow people to look up chemical contaminants in their food from a large database. You can find that on the FDA website. And one last note on food, RFK is tackling baby formula with Operation Stork.

The FDA is increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants and encouraging companies to work with the FDA so they can maximize transparency and provide clear labeling on formula.

The FDA is increasing testing for heavy metals and other contaminants and encouraging companies to work with the FDA so they can maximize transparency and provide clear labeling on formula.

Well, on vaccines, the National Institutes of Health, which is part of HHS, said that it's going to stop spending money to find out why Americans are hesitant to take vaccinations. NIH is terminating or scaling back more than 40 related grants, and they said that that sort of spending just doesn't align with NIH priorities anymore. However, money is being spent on autism research.

Well, on vaccines, the National Institutes of Health, which is part of HHS, said that it's going to stop spending money to find out why Americans are hesitant to take vaccinations. NIH is terminating or scaling back more than 40 related grants, and they said that that sort of spending just doesn't align with NIH priorities anymore. However, money is being spent on autism research.

Kennedy launched a $50 million initiative aimed at investigating the causes of autism and improving treatments. In April, he announced that he's commissioning a series of studies on suspected links to higher autism rates. That includes mold, pesticides, food chemicals, medications and ultrasounds during pregnancies. He also set a tight deadline on finding these contributing factors.

Kennedy launched a $50 million initiative aimed at investigating the causes of autism and improving treatments. In April, he announced that he's commissioning a series of studies on suspected links to higher autism rates. That includes mold, pesticides, food chemicals, medications and ultrasounds during pregnancies. He also set a tight deadline on finding these contributing factors.

Overall, there's just a real shift at HHS in what the department is prioritizing. Kennedy famously took doge like actions to the department last month and he terminated tens of thousands of employees that he said were either from duplicate departments or unnecessary bureaucracy. He's also reallocating funds he's cut from NIH and the CDC to instead address chronic disease.

Overall, there's just a real shift at HHS in what the department is prioritizing. Kennedy famously took doge like actions to the department last month and he terminated tens of thousands of employees that he said were either from duplicate departments or unnecessary bureaucracy. He's also reallocating funds he's cut from NIH and the CDC to instead address chronic disease.

And as I mentioned earlier, tens of millions of dollars are going towards autism research. But this seems like just step one for Kennedy in his MAHA actions. He signaled that he's taking on the pharmaceutical industry next.

And as I mentioned earlier, tens of millions of dollars are going towards autism research. But this seems like just step one for Kennedy in his MAHA actions. He signaled that he's taking on the pharmaceutical industry next.