Center for Science in the Public Interest

US Senate Democrats to investigate Kennedy's firing of vaccine expert panel Democrats on the U.S. Senate's health committee launched an investigation on Tuesday into Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s firing of all members of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention panel of vaccine experts.

Senate Democrats led by @sanders.senate.gov are launching an investigation into Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to fire a CDC panel of vaccine experts. The committee, which has jurisdiction over the CDC’s recommendations for vaccines approved by the FDA, now includes anti-vaccine activists.

CSPI interns and staff pose with the U.S. Capitol building in the background on a sunny day with scattered clouds.

CSPI interns and staff pose in front of a painting in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building.

CSPI interns and staff stand in the lobby of DC Central Kitchen as a staff member gives a tour of the building.

CSPI interns and practicum students stand in front of a glass wall in the CSPI office bearing the CSPI logo.

This week, CSPI interns and staff convened in Washington for the first D.C. Summer Intern Experience! We had the opportunity to connect in CSPI’s office, tour the U.S. Capitol with help from @blumenthal.senate.gov’s office, and take a look behind the scenes at @dccentralkitchen.bsky.social.

SNAP’s role in nutrition: What works and what doesn’t SNAP can be a lever to improve nutrition security and public health, but the Trump administration seems intent on dismantling the program. Here's what to know.

The MAHA Report, in addition to falling short of rigorous science, unfairly flagged SNAP as contributing to poor health outcomes in children. In reality, SNAP can be a lever to improve nutrition security and public health -- but the Trump admin seems intent on dismantling the program.

The billion-dollar supplement industry is capitalizing on the popularity of GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, by making their own pills, patches, and other products bearing “GLP-1” branding. But as usual with supplements, there's a lot of unknowns.

MTA banned alcohol ads 7 years ago, citing health concerns. Now it wants the money. Alcohol ads could soon start popping up in the public transit system, as the agency nixes a ban.

Seven years ago, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) banned alcohol ads on subways and buses—but last month they voted to start allowing them again. Critics say this move could put ads for alcohol right in front of kids, reversing progress on combating underage drinking.

Group photo of Rock Steady Farms

Two people are bending down in a field picking a vegetables

A group of people are gathered around a piece of farming equipment to watch someone work on it

With CSPI’s Powerbuilding support, Rock Steady Farm in Kingston, NY is building equity from the ground up and ensuring food justice is intersectional, inclusive, and radically rooted in community! Click the link in our bio to read more!

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Pictures: Rock Steady Farm

Powerbuilding Program: Grassroots stories and food systems change Launched in 2022, Powerbuilding is more than just a program. It offers dedicated funding to bring in new voices and contributes to the advocacy capacity of organizations led by and serving people with...

Click the link below to read more about Co-op Dayton and others in our interactive “cookbook” on building power in the food system! 🌱

In a city where grocery options have long been limited, CO-OP Dayton is rewriting the script! By building local leadership and investing in economic resilience, Co-op Dayton is proving that healthy food access works best when communities lead the way.
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Pictures: Co-op Dayton

Sankofa CDC is championing healthy food equity & policy in NOLA with support from CSPI’s Powerbuilding program! Click the link in our bio to see Sankofa featured in our interactive webpage and “cookbook” on building power in the food system. 💪

We implore the Trump administration to immediately rescind Means’ nomination for this position, and if the administration does not and her confirmation proceeds to the Senate floor, we urge senators to vote NO.

Combined with pitching supplements, conspiratorial thinking, and unscientific mysticism on her blog, she is not qualified for this critical role. The United States Senate has a responsibility to choose a well-qualified medical professional for Surgeon General.

Dr. Casey Means, who does not have an active medical license, has built an outsized online following by articulating some breathtakingly misinformed positions on matters of public health, including on birth control pills, raw milk, and the causes of autism.

Dozens of advocacy, health, and consumer groups urge senators to reject Trump nominee Casey Means for U.S. Surgeon General

Today, CSPI joined with @publiccitizen.bsky.social to co-lead a letter, signed by over 30 other organizations, to urge U.S. senators to reject the nomination of health and wellness digital personality Casey Means for Surgeon General.

Powerbuilding Program: Grassroots stories and food systems change Launched in 2022, Powerbuilding is more than just a program. It offers dedicated funding to bring in new voices and contributes to the advocacy capacity of organizations led by and serving people with...

Click the link below to read more about ZYEP and others in our interactive “cookbook” on building power in the food system! 🌱

Picture of a young man standing over a little girl as she loads items into a small cart.

Picture of a young man in a classroom sitting at a table with a girl. Both the young man and the girl are giving a peace sign to the camera.

Picture of children working to water plants in a community garden.

After a boost of CSPI support, Zuni Youth Enrichment Project (ZYEP) is growing youth food sovereignty & cultural wellness through gardens in New Mexico! These gardens are growing good food and future leaders. 💪✌

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Pictures: ZYEP

Powerbuilding Program: Grassroots stories and food systems change Launched in 2022, Powerbuilding is more than just a program. It offers dedicated funding to bring in new voices and contributes to the advocacy capacity of organizations led by and serving people with...

Click the link below to read our interactive “cookbook” of recipes on building power in the food system! 🌱

Picture of several people outside with pallets of food stacked on the ground. The Afrithrive logo can be seen on the white van in the background.

In Prince George’s County, MD, Afrithrive is reclaiming food sovereignty! With support from CSPI’s Powerbuilding Program, Afrithrive cultivated community gardens by growing crops that reflect the cultural heritage of African immigrant and refugee families, and much more.
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Photo credit: Afrithrive

Federal district court strikes down NIH's unlawful directives that led to the elimination of critical research

We're pleased with the First Circuit's decision and we look forward to continuing the case on the merits.

If you missed the news about our victory, you can read the full story here 👇

Another good ruling in our lawsuit against the NIH!

In June, we went to trial and won a judgment finding that NIH's directives instructing staff to cancel research on certain topics were unlawful. On Friday, the government's appeal to stay the judgment was denied.

RFK Jr. Turns to Fringe Medical Journal to Find New Hires George Tidmarsh is a millionaire co-founder of a biotech firm, serial entrepreneur, neonatologist and adjunct professor at Stanford University. But his part in creating a fringe medical journal is the...

RFK, Jr. continues the trend of plucking new hires from unscientific spaces and placing them in positions where they can spread their fringe ideas on a national scale. So-called medical journals like the "Journal of the Academy of Public Health" are the canary in the coal mine here.

Powerbuilding Program: Grassroots stories and food systems change Launched in 2022, Powerbuilding is more than just a program. It offers dedicated funding to bring in new voices and contributes to the advocacy capacity of organizations led by and serving people with...

When CSPI launched the Powerbuilding Program in 2022, we knew real change had to start with those closest to the challenges and the solutions. Explore our journey with our most recent cohort of partners, including their stories, learnings, and what it takes to build lasting food justice! 👇

Red can of cola with a "high in sugar" front-of-package label.

Front-of-package nutrition labels are starting to show up on products across Canada, similar to warning labels in countries like Chile and Mexico. It's time for the U.S. to follow suit!

“Restoring Gold Standard Science” is a move from the same toolbox as RFK, Jr.’s “radical transparency.” That is to say, it will do the exact opposite of what it says it will do. Excellent piece from @drdavidmichaels.bsky.social and Wendy Wagner.

Coke confirms cane sugar change. RFK Jr. calls it a MAHA win. Is it? As Coca-Cola confirms plans to release the cane sugar alternative in the U.S., some nutritionists said there is little health benefit as a replacement for high-fructose corn syrup.

Cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup? Health experts say that replacing one sugar with another isn't going to make soda healthier.

"'To actually improve health, the administration should focus on less sugar, not different sugar,' said Aviva Musicus, science director of [CSPI]."

We're accepting proposals through September 3rd. Click the link above the full RFPs and for additional info on geographic eligibility, the application process, and more!

What we support

Nonprofit partners! Are you advocating for healthy food environments, looking to hold the food industry accountable, or building power in your community to change the food system? Check out CSPI’s current subgrant opportunities! 👇👇

Say it louder for the people in the back! 👏👏

Vaccines save lives.

RFK Jr. is putting Americans at risk with his dangerous misinformation and conspiracy theories.

This legislation would direct the FDA to strengthen the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) Rule, which has often acted as a loophole for companies to avoid getting pre-market FDA approval for more than 1,000 food chemicals. We support this bill and we support safer food!

Screenshot of a Threads post from Senator Markey that says "Amid Trump-era FDA cuts, @senbooker and I are fighting to ban toxic chemicals like phthalates from food and packaging. Families deserve safe food—not hidden health risks. Our bill will hold corporations and regulators accountable."

We should be safe from toxic foods! @edmarkey.bsky.social and @corybooker.com have just reintroduced the Ensuring Safe and Toxic Free Foods Act. 👏👏