A sweeping new federal report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission targets ultra-processed food manufacturers, chemical and pharmaceutical giants and even U.S. farming practices on claims of fueling a nationwide childhood health crisis.
The 72-page report, “Make Our Children Healthy Again,” was released in accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive order 14212 and was chaired by Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The report cites Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics showing that more than 40% of children in the U.S. suffer from at least one chronic health condition, such as asthma, obesity, autoimmune disorders or behavioral disorders.
To reverse course, the commission identifies four priority areas for transformation: poor diet dominated by ultra-processed foods, the cumulative load of environmental chemicals, physical inactivity and chronic stress, and the over-medicalization of children.
Ultra-processed foods
According to the MAHA Commission report, the sharp rise in ultra-processed food consumption has drastically altered the American child’s diet. Today, more than two-thirds of children’s calories come from just three engineered components: ultra-processed grains, sugars and fats. This shift has displaced nutrient-dense whole foods, leading to a widespread deficiency in essential nutrients that are crucial for healthy development, according to the commission.
The report details how refined grains, stripped of their bran and germ, lose vital nutrients and can cause blood sugar spikes that raise the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Ultra-processed sugars, now found in 75% of packaged foods, drive obesity and metabolic disease, with most Americans consuming far more than recommended levels. Meanwhile, traditional animal fats have been replaced by industrial seed oils, which are lower in micronutrients and may promote inflammation due to an imbalanced omega-6-to-omega-3 ratio, the report continued.
The case for whole foods
The MAHA report emphasizes that whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, dairy and lean proteins, are foundational to children’s health. Diets based on whole foods are consistently linked to lower rates of obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer and mental illness.
However, the report states that the rise of ultra-processed foods has eroded this nutritional foundation. Since World War II, ultra-processed foods have become embedded in the American economy and diet, a shift the report attributes to policy decisions that have “undermined the food system.”
Corporate consolidation has intensified this trend. In 2023, farmers received just 16 cents of every food dollar, while major corporations claimed the rest. Many of these companies’ core offerings are ultra-processed, nutrient-poor products now central to the American diet, the commission said.
USDA’s role
The MAHA report scrutinizes the USDA’s role in nutrition assistance, stating that, though well-intentioned, it may now contribute to poor health outcomes for children. The report criticizes federal crop insurance for heavily favoring commodity crops, such as corn, wheat and soybeans, while specialty crops, including fruits and vegetables, received just 0.1% of farm bill subsidies in 2018.
The report states that more than 80% of farm bill spending is allocated to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves 42 million Americans—including one in five children—but allows the purchase of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. In fiscal year 2025, SNAP is projected to spend nearly twice as much on ultra-processed foods as on produce. The report also flags concerns with school meal programs, which lack ultra-processed food limits. The commission praises the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children as a successful model, citing its positive impact on birth outcomes, nutrition and obesity prevention.
Environmental chemicals
The MAHA report highlights growing concerns over children’s cumulative exposure to synthetic chemicals, including pesticides, herbicides, microplastics and phthalates. With over 40,000 chemicals registered for use in the U.S., the commission said children face daily exposure through food, water, air, textiles and household products.
While crop protection tools like glyphosate and atrazine have played a vital role in maintaining agricultural productivity, the report warns that regulatory systems often assess these chemicals in isolation, overlooking the potential combined effects of multiple exposures to these chemicals. “The great challenge of the next decade,” the report states, “is for government and industry … to understand the impacts of the cumulative chemical exposure that a child faces.”
Notably, the report calls farmers “critical partners” in the effort to improve public health and cautions against sudden regulatory changes. It urges that any revisions to pesticide policy be grounded in risk-based science and consider the practical impacts on farm production and input costs.
Ag pushes back
Leaders from across the agricultural sector are pushing back against the report, calling its findings fear-driven and dismissive of decades of science-based farming practices.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said the White House’s endorsement of the report was “deeply troubling,” saying it “sows seeds of doubt and fear about our food system and farming practices,” while paradoxically attempting to celebrate the very farmers it sidelines.
“Farmers are identified as ‘critical partners,’ yet were excluded from development of the report, despite many requests for a seat at the table,” Duvall added. He criticized the report’s reliance on “outlier studies and unproven theories,” warning that it undermines confidence in America’s food supply.
The National Corn Growers Association echoed that sentiment, condemning what it described as “fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides.” The group defended the long-standing Environmental Protection Agency regulatory process, noting that “decades of extensive research and testing show that pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, can be applied safely for their intended uses.”
Similarly, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) expressed concern that the report “contains misleading claims that could undermine public trust” in U.S. agriculture. NAWG President Pat Clements emphasized that farmers are “committed to producing safe, healthy food” and called for the group’s inclusion in future policy discussions.
According to the HHS, the next steps include supporting “gold-standard scientific research” and developing a comprehensive strategy, including the production of a “Make Our Children Healthy Again” strategy, which builds on the findings outlined in the current assessment. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
