Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warned on Monday that America’s heavy dependence on ultra-processed foods is damaging children’s health, characterizing efforts to confront the problem as “spiritual warfare,” according to a report by the Washington Examiner.
Kennedy made the remarks during a sit-down conversation with Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts marking the first anniversary of his Make America Healthy Again initiative. He argued that highly processed foods now dominate what Americans eat and are a major driver of chronic illness, especially among children.
“It’s spiritual warfare. It’s a war at scale against cellular activity. It’s an assault on children,” Kennedy said, citing administration figures indicating that about 70% of the calories consumed by American children come from ultra-processed foods.
He likened the long-term health consequences of these products to tobacco use, asserting that ultra-processed foods are “much worse than cigarettes” in terms of their lasting impact on health.
Kennedy also pointed to the financial toll of poor diet, saying chronic illnesses linked to nutrition now account for a substantial portion of federal healthcare spending. He estimated that roughly 40 cents of every taxpayer dollar is spent treating preventable metabolic disease.
Addressing criticism that his approach could lead to excessive government control, Kennedy dismissed claims that his policies amount to a “nanny state.”
He emphasized that Americans should continue to have the freedom to decide what they eat, including indulgences like soda or sweets, but argued that people are entitled to clear, honest information about the health effects of those choices.
“I’m not going to take away anybody’s donuts or Coca-Cola,” Kennedy said, stressing that individual choice must go hand in hand with accurate and transparent guidance.
Kennedy further took aim at what he described as outsized corporate influence on nutrition research and public health messaging, urging parents to view food advertising and official recommendations with “fierce skepticism.”
He maintained that both government institutions and the food industry have fallen short in protecting children from harmful dietary patterns.
As part of his broader agenda, Kennedy has advocated for changes to the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans, calling for increased emphasis on protein, healthy fats, and whole foods, while reducing reliance on refined carbohydrates and processed products.
The remarks reflect Kennedy’s wider push to challenge established public health assumptions and redirect federal policy toward what he says is a more candid, preventive, and health-focused approach.
{Matzav.com}