RFK Jr. promotes unhealthy ultraprocessed meals despite health criticisms
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed Mom's Meals, a food company offering delivered meals for Medicaid and Medicare enrollees.
- An investigative review highlighted the meals' ultraprocessed nature and presence of chemical additives.
- The endorsement raises concerns about the contradiction in promoting unhealthy food while advocating for better diets.
In the United States, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., serving as Health Secretary, publicly endorsed a company called Mom's Meals, which offers meals catered for Medicaid and Medicare enrollees. This promotion occurred on a Monday, July 6, 2025, where Kennedy praised the meals as a way to improve Americans' health. However, an extensive review by the Associated Press revealed that the foods provided by Mom's Meals are highly ultraprocessed and contain numerous chemical additives that undermine the healthy eating ethos Kennedy typically advocates. Nutrition expert Marion Nestle highlighted that each meal is loaded with additives, which makes them hard to replicate in a home cooking environment. Critics argue that the reliance on ultraprocessed foods is contributing significantly to the obesity epidemic in America, a concern that is at odds with Kennedy's promotion of the company’s offerings. Kennedy's public health agenda has called for healthier diets across the U.S., which has created a diverse coalition of supporters eager for change in dietary habits, including political figures and various community groups. Despite promoting the meals as a healthy alternative, there are significant concerns regarding their nutritional value, especially with high sodium, sugar, and fat contents, thus prompting an ongoing debate about the health implications of these food products shared on various platforms.