Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has teamed up with the Department of Agriculture to formally define ultra-processed foods, a step toward empowering consumers and addressing America’s chronic disease epidemic.
Kennedy announced this past week that HHS and the USDA, which is led by Secretary Brooke Rollins, will implement a “Request for Information (RFI) to gather information and data to help establish a federally recognized uniform definition for ultra-processed foods.”
Currently, no such authoritative definition exists.
“Ultra-processed foods are driving our chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said. “We must act boldly to eliminate the root causes of chronic illness and improve the health of our food supply. Defining ultra-processed foods with a clear, uniform standard will empower us even more to Make America Healthy Again.”
Rollins said a “unified, widely understood definition for ultra processed foods is long overdue.” She also promised that the “great men and women of the agriculture value chain” will be “part of the conversation.”
A press release from HHS said that approximately 70% of packaged products in the U.S. are foods often considered ultra-processed. Additionally, children, on average, get over 60% of their calories from these ultra-processed foods.
“Dozens of scientific studies have found links between the consumption of foods often considered ultra-processed with numerous adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, obesity and neurological disorders,” HHS said. “Helping to address overconsumption of ultra-processed foods is a key element to Make America Healthy Again.”
With a uniform definition of ultra-processed food, there will be “consistency in research and policy to pave the way for addressing health concerns associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods,” the press release noted.
The RFI is publicly available in the federal register (accessible here) until September 23. It asks for information on what factors and criteria should be included in a definition of ultra-processed foods.
Additionally, Kennedy has worked with major food corporations to move Americans toward healthier food options. For example, a number of major businesses have already voluntarily moved to rid their products of synthetic dyes or made other health-related changes.
🇺🇸 MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN!
The Trump Administration delivers on MAHA: Dozens of ice cream brands drop artificial colors, joining major companies in improving our food supply! 💪⬇️ pic.twitter.com/NdR4u4pAya
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 15, 2025
This past week, Kennedy also announced that a mercury-based preservative called thimerosal will be removed from all influenza vaccines distributed in the United States. RFK made the decision after the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the change out of safety concerns.
Related: RFK Jr. Nixes U.S. Funding For Vaccine Alliance Until It ‘Re-Earns The Public’s Trust’
