Economic advantages of good health
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) report, officially titled "Make Our Children Healthy Again," is a groundbreaking federal initiative launched in 2025. Led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the report aims to address the growing chronic disease crisis in the U.S., particularly among children, by linking public health issues to environmental and food system factors like processed foods, artificial additives, industrial chemicals, and pollution.
Key critiques of the food industry and regulatory systems in the MAHA report include:
- Processed Foods and Additives: The report identifies processed foods and artificial additives as major contributors to the rising rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, childhood allergies, and neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging: The report highlights food packaging chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) as concerning exposures that contribute to health risks in children. It calls for more independent research into the cumulative effects of these substances and urges the FDA to update regulations with greater transparency and focus on children's health.
- Environmental Toxins and Pollution: MAHA stresses that pollution and industrial chemical contamination of soil, water, and the food supply are public health hazards requiring systemic reform.
- Regulatory Gaps: The report critiques existing regulatory frameworks for failing to adequately protect children from harmful food ingredients and environmental exposures. It calls for reforms including independent safety studies of food additives currently "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) without sufficient evaluation.
- Integration of Health and Environment Policies: Unlike previous approaches that separate health policy from environmental protection, MAHA advocates for a cohesive strategy linking food system reform, environmental cleanup, and chronic disease prevention.
Overall, the MAHA initiative represents a call to action aimed at substantial policy shifts to reduce exposures to harmful substances in food and the environment, improve farming practices, and protect children's health by addressing root causes of chronic disease at the intersection of health and environment.
Meanwhile, food manufacturers are responding to the growing pressure. Some have signed up to the MAHA report, and there has been an explosion in state proposals to ban certain additives. However, big food companies have used various tactics to maintain their practices, including legal battles and campaigns. For instance, Coca-Cola has softened its position on corn syrup but not abandoned it, while Mars is holding out against changing the food dyes in M&Ms.
The impact of these changes extends beyond America's borders, with the American food and drink industry having influenced diets worldwide. Chronic diseases have been linked to high consumption of fat, sugar, and additives in the American food industry, and the rest of the world should leverage America's efforts to improve health and ratchet up pressure on their own vested interests.
It's worth noting that improvements in health and diet have contributed significantly to economic growth in various countries, including the UK, Australia, Germany, and Japan, which have remarkably few burger bars and junk food shops, even in Tokyo. Conversely, the poorest people in rich countries are most likely to be afflicted by chronic diseases and experience the earliest onset.
In conclusion, the MAHA report serves as a catalyst for change, challenging the food industry to rethink its practices and policy-makers to prioritize health and environmental protection. The journey towards a healthier future is underway, and it's up to us all to contribute to this significant shift.
[1] Make Our Children Healthy Again - The MAHA Report. (2025). Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/MAHA/ [2] Kennedy Jr., R. F. (2025). The MAHA Report: Making Our Children Healthy Again. Simon & Schuster. [3] European Commission. (2021). Health at a Glance: Europe 2021. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/health_policy/docs/haga_2021_en.pdf
- The MAHA report, with its emphasis on analyzing the links between environmental factors, food system components like processed foods and additives, and the rise in chronic diseases among children, advocates for science-based approaches in health and wellness to ensure cardiovascular health and overall fitness and exercise.
- Recognizing the potential health risks associated with chemicals in food packaging such as phthalates, bispensols, and PFAS, and acknowledging the need for more independent research, the report encourages an investment in finance and resources to expand the scope of studying their cumulative effects and updates regulations to prioritize children's health.
- In the realm of nutrition, the MAHA report calls for addressing regulatory gaps surrounding food additives considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS) without thorough evaluation, with a focus on independent safety studies.
- At the heart of the finance sector, the report invites investors to consider the long-term implications of supporting industries that contribute to chronic diseases and instead invest in companies prioritizing health-and-wellness and sustainable farming practices.
- Making a bold step towards integrating health and environmental policies, the MAHA report envisions a future where environmental cleanup, food system reform, and chronic disease prevention work together to foster a healthier, more sustainable world for future generations.
