Federal health officials are planning a bold public service campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of ultra-processed foods in various media channels, including social media, transit ads, billboards, and text messages. The campaign, spearheaded by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, aims to address the significant impact of industrialized food supply on chronic diseases. Kennedy’s “Make America healthy again” campaign has prioritized improving the food supply as a critical health issue that garners bipartisan support.
Despite efforts to overhaul vaccine infrastructure and chronic disease prevention programs, Kennedy has faced challenges in regulating food makers. The proposed campaign seeks to educate Americans about the role of ultra-processed foods in fueling chronic diseases like diabetes and inspire individuals to make healthier dietary choices. The initiative is expected to cost between $10m to $20m, with a focus on driving measurable improvements in diabetes prevention and national health outcomes.
The campaign also sheds light on the Trump administration’s unconventional hiring practices, including the appointment of special government employees like Calley Means, a key adviser to Kennedy. Means, who founded a company promoting wearable devices for measuring diet impact, could benefit from the campaign’s objective to popularize such technology. However, concerns have been raised about potential conflicts of interest due to Means’s private business interests.
While the campaign highlights the link between ultra-processed foods and diabetes, some experts, like Harvard nutritionist Walter Willett, express reservations about the broad categorization of processed foods. The proposal does not delve into defining the ultra-processed category, leaving questions about the specific foods it encompasses. Despite the campaign’s focus on raising awareness, experts stress the importance of crafting effective and accurate messaging to drive meaningful behavior change among the public.
