What the MAHA Report Gets Right...and Wrong

"It's refreshing to see top health officials in government recognize some (but not all of) the multi-factorial drivers and determinants of children's health and recognize the value of issues that ANH has been working on for years: the importance of real, whole foods, better Dietary Guidelines, regenerative agriculture, reducing chemical and environmental exposures (pesticides, electromagnetic field radiation, etc.), and healthcare that focuses on prevention, to name a few. Getting these issues on the agenda, and in the minds of the public, is itself a victory."

"Unfortunately, our concern is that the Strategy report seems to lack substantive changes or granular detail that are necessary to have a meaningful and measurable impact on children's health. Like the first MAHA report released in May, it calls for more research, more data, more investigations, the formation of more working groups, more evaluations and risk assessments. In short, it is not the bold change that many of us wanted and expected from the MAHA Commission"

"The MAHA Commission's Strategy report highlights positive priorities that aim to turn around the health of American kids-like overconsumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), under-consumption of whole foods, the need for regenerative agriculture, and reduced conflicts of interest-but it stops short of meaningful action. Despite encouraging rhetoric, many recommendations lean on more studies and committees, while some proposals-like eliminating the self-GRAS pathway-could actually harm access to natural products."

Top health officials acknowledge multiple drivers of children's health, including overconsumption of ultra-processed foods, underconsumption of whole foods, and environmental chemical and radiation exposures. Regenerative agriculture and prevention-focused healthcare receive emphasis alongside calls for better Dietary Guidelines. Policy recommendations prioritize additional research, data collection, investigations, and working groups rather than immediate, granular interventions. Some regulatory proposals, such as eliminating the self-GRAS pathway, could reduce access to natural products. Meaningful improvement will require substantive, measurable policy changes and grassroots pressure to center prevention, nutrition, and holistic care within the healthcare system.

Read at Natural Health News