M&M's, MAHA, and the Battle Over Food Dyes: Why Progressives Shouldn't Ignore a Public Health Win

"Under pressure from RFK Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) campaign, companies like Kraft Heinz and PepsiCo have agreed to eliminate petroleum-based dyes by 2026-a move supported by growing scientific evidence linking these dyes to behavioral and health issues in children. Despite the clear benefits, the mainstream media has dismissed the initiative due to its association with RFK Jr., showing how political bias can obstruct genuine health wins."

"In April, RFK Jr. announced an agreement with several major food manufacturers-Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, General Mills, ConAgra, and PepsiCo-to voluntarily remove petroleum-based food dyes by the end of 2026. If these companies follow through, household staples like Jell-O, Kool-Aid, and Lucky Charms will soon be free of synthetic dyes. The response from much of the media and public health community? Skepticism-bordering on disdain."

"Why? It seems that partisanship is trumping public health. If a different politician-one more in line with mainstream progressive views-had successfully pressured Big Food into eliminating ingredients linked to neurobehavioral and allergic disorders, it would be lauded as a watershed moment in food policy. Instead, we see the initiative dismissed, not because of what it does, but because of who leads it."

Major food manufacturers agreed to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026 under pressure from RFK Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" campaign. The change would remove dyes from products such as Jell-O, Kool-Aid, Lucky Charms, and M&M's. Recent scientific evidence increasingly links these dyes to behavioral and health problems in children, including neurobehavioral and allergic disorders. Much of the mainstream media and parts of the public health community have been skeptical, largely because of the campaign's political association. The movement also prompts broader scrutiny of ultra-processed foods and additives, with some states advancing policy where the FDA has stalled.

Read at Natural Health News