Helena Bottemiller Evich

Thank you!!

Does anyone know if there any political scientists digging into the Make America Healthy Again movement? (RIP academic Twitter I’m sure I would have already found them!)

Here at FDA today for an expert panel on infant formula w/FDA commissioner Marty Makary. Having flashbacks to reporting on the infant formula crisis, which is still one of the most traumatic things I've ever covered.

Glad to see formula getting attention again- important topic that's often ignored

🥗 I'm not the only one in my profanity era. @hbottemiller.bsky.social said, and I quote, "Centering school meals on whole, local foods would require a fuck ton more money."

Washington enters its MAHA era — and everyone is struggling to keep up After a very busy week, the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ agenda starts to take shape in DC.

After a very busy week, the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (#MAHA) agenda starts to take shape in DC.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA message to food sector CEOs A readout of RFK Jr.’s Monday meeting with food industry CEOs. The meeting comes as the food industry faces increasing pressure from many directions and the Trump administration signals GRAS reform is...

Scoop: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told food industry CEOs Monday that he wants synthetic food dyes out of the food supply before he leaves office.

The full readout in @foodfixco.bsky.social:

foodfix.co/robert-f-ken...

The Trump administration fired — then rehired — FDA’s lead on infant formula safety Another DOGE layoff bites the dust. Plus, some staff working on food chemical oversight have also been called back after being fired.

The Trump administration fired and subsequently rehired the person in charge of infant formula safety at FDA, per sources familiar — the latest example of a disruptive government layoff that had to be walked back.

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How sweeping FDA firings may disrupt food additives oversight Rank-and-file FDA staff are reeling after a chaotic weekend of layoffs. Exclusive: FDA’s deputy commissioner for human foods abruptly resigns. Plus, Brooke Rollins leans into MAHA.

For more on this, see the latest edition of @foodfixco.bsky.social >>

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Of course, it’s possible that the new administration has plans to bring in their own people to continue these functions. If so, it would still be a lengthy process to recruit and hire from scratch. Both FDA and HHS did not respond to my questions nor a request for comment.

That Kennedy was plugging a European-style regulatory system on Fox News is remarkable – a true sign of political realignment on this issue – but it’s not lost on FDA staff that it makes little sense right now to gut the government employees who do this very work.

“Many of the additives we have are just illegal in Europe,” Kennedy added. “We need to move more and more toward the European standard.”

Kennedy continued: "It’s about … allowing people to understand and empower them with understanding: That if you eat that, it may seem cheap, but it’s going to cost you in the long run. You’re going to get diabetes, etc.”

“First of all, I believe in freedom of choice,” Kennedy said. “If you want to eat Twinkies, you ought to be able to eat them, but you ought to know what’s in them. A lot of what I’m going to do is about radical transparency… "

Last week on Fox News, Kennedy was asked about the top three food additives he wanted to remove from the food supply.

It’s not clear what the administration has in mind for addressing food additives. At times, advisors have floated reforming the Generally Recognized as Safe system, but lately key officials have been emphasizing that they are not going to be heavy handed.

This move comes right as the new administration has gone all-in on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement, which has been extremely focused on concerns about food additives already on the market.

The post-market assessment office was particularly vulnerable to the mass layoffs because it was just hatched a few months ago and a high proportion of its staff were probationary. I don’t have exact figures, but I’m told the majority of staff were laid off.

One office w/in FDA’s new Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation was particularly hard hit: a new division tasked w/post-market assessment – in other words, the office charged with taking a harder look at the food chemicals already on the market.

Thousands of employees across HHS received emails Saturday night alleging that they were fired for poor performance, regardless of what their performance reviews said. This action targeted so-called probationary employees, who are often newer at the agency.

It’s difficult to get a full picture of the layoffs because of how abruptly this is all being handled, and because FDA is still not responding to press inquiries. Here’s what I’ve been able to gather so far from talking to folks inside the agency:

FDA’s work to beef up oversight of food chemicals -- a key MAHA priority -- was disproportionately affected by a rash of firings at the agency last weekend, according to several sources. 🧵

Jim Jones resigns as FDA deputy commissioner for human foods The resignation comes after a tumultuous weekend of layoffs at FDA and across HHS more broadly.

Scoop: Jim Jones has resigned as FDA deputy commissioner for human foods.

The move comes after the Trump administration over the weekend fired thousands of employees across HHS, including many within FDA’s foods program.

foodfix.co/jim-jones-re...

I'm digging more into DOGE and food/ag policy today (so USDA/FDA/NIH) and also the lingering consequences of the grants/spending freeze.

If you're impacted by any of this, get in touch: helena@foodfix.co. I'm also on signal. DM me!

What US adults think of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his views on vaccines, fluoride and raw milk Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing some skepticism from the public. A survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows only about 3 in 10 Americans approve of President Dona...

More on the poll here ⤵️

apnews.com/article/rfk-...

It's a stark contrast to what the poll found on vaccines

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moderates his statements on vaccines but doubles down on the MAHA food agenda... this new poll from @apnews.com caught my eye: Shows a crackdown on processed foods is broadly popular across all political lines 👀

I also asked about Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' request to pilot a ban on certain food items from SNAP in Arkansas.

She said she hadn't given the issue much thought yet, but said she generally favored states being laboratories for policy. 3/3

"...but what my role will be to strike a balance between defending our farmers and ranchers but also working with Bobby Kennedy who I adore to effectuate the president's vision on all of the above." 2/3

After the confirmation hearing, I asked Brooke Rollins (Trump's USDA pick) about the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.

"I certainly support the concept. America, as we discussed in this hearing, is becoming unhealthier and unhealthier..." 1/3

Paint ’n’ Play | Art Game for Kids | National Gallery of Art Create like a great with our painting art game for kids. Choose your brushes and colors inspired by Van Gogh, Alma Thomas and other great artists.

PSA for parents of littles today: After your kids freeze their buns off playing in the snow, @ngadc.bsky.social has a handy painting app 🎨

www.nga.gov/games/paint-...