Uncovering the Impact of Kennedy's Food Views on Public Health

On Raw Milk

Dairy milk, like many foods, can carry harmful microbes. Before 1938, it was responsible for a quarter of food-based disease outbreaks. But with the widespread adoption of pasteurization, this rate decreased significantly. Raw milk, which has not been pasteurized, is a niche product in many states. While some believe that pasteurization removes beneficial vitamins and bacteria, the amounts of Vitamin C removed are negligible, and the probiotic bacteria in raw milk may not be beneficial in sufficient quantities.

Dairy farming has been consolidated since the New Deal, and pasteurization requirements have favored larger producers. Smaller dairy producers, however, advocate for raw milk. The Delaware Legislature's Consumer Choice Milk Act allows customers to purchase raw milk directly from producers. But when Kennedy claims that raw milk "advances human health" and downplays its risks, he overlooks the potential for severe food-borne illnesses. For example, in November 2024, containers of raw milk sold by Raw Farm in Fresno tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.

On Seed Oils

Kennedy has blamed seed oils for the obesity epidemic and called for animal-based fats in cooking. Seed oils, such as canola, corn, soybean, sunflower, and safflower oils, are common and affordable. While some vegetable-based oils came under fire in the 1990s due to their association with trans fats, most sold in American grocery stores are trans fat-free. Although seed oils contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids relative to omega-3, the American Heart Association endorses their inclusion in a healthy diet.

Kennedy promotes beef tallow as a healthy alternative to seed oils, but there is minimal evidence that seed oil use causes an increase in obesity while heart disease has decreased. Seed oils are also derived from crops that require pesticides and fertilizers, which are targets of Kennedy's policy agenda. In Sri Lanka, a shift to organic farming led to a drop in rice yields and the need to import crops.

On Food Dyes

Kennedy has attacked cereal companies for using food dyes. There are natural and synthetic food dyes, with the latter regulated by public health authorities. Critics point out that European Union regulations are stricter than in the US. The Feingold Diet blamed certain synthetic food dyes for childhood allergies and hyperactivity, but these claims have been debunked. Studies continue to explore links between childhood behavioral disorders and artificial food dyes, and California recently banned several of them.

Some synthetic dyes can cause cancer in animals and contain carcinogens, and there are no public health benefits to offset the potential downsides. When General Mills attempted to discontinue its "classic" artificially colored Trix cereal in 2015, it faced a consumer revolt and had to reintroduce it. This shows the power of consumer preferences in the food industry.