U.S. Secretary of Well being and Human Companies Robert F. Kennedy Jr. gestures as he speaks throughout an occasion on the Roosevelt Room of the White Home in Washington, D.C., U.S., Dec. 19, 2025.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday mentioned he would assist a possible ban on junk meals TV commercials within the U.S. – an effort that may possible draw fierce backlash from main meals producers.
Talking at a Senate Well being, Training, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee listening to, rating member Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., mentioned President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon basic, Casey Means, had lately instructed the panel she helps banning junk meals advertisements on TV.
When requested whether or not he agrees with a ban, Kennedy mentioned, “I’d assist that.”
However Kennedy additionally appeared to indicate that he would need the hassle to be voluntary for meals firms.
“The one hesitation I’ve was … we tried to do a smoking ban on TV, and the tobacco firms voluntarily got here to the desk, which was a great factor,” he mentioned. “And I feel the identical arguments apply for junk meals, [which is] in all probability even worse for People than smoking.”
Meals, beverage and restaurant firms spend virtually $14 billion per 12 months on meals advertisements within the U.S., with greater than 80% selling quick meals, sugary drinks, sweet, and unhealthy snacks, 2017 analysis from the College of Connecticut’s Rudd Middle for Meals Coverage and Well being exhibits. It’s not clear how traits have modified within the years since.
The Trump administration is already exploring whether or not to restrict meals firms’ capacity to market sure unhealthy meals to youngsters, based on a “Make America Wholesome Once more” technique doc launched by the White Home in September.
HHS, the Federal Commerce Fee and different companies will contemplate establishing meals trade tips on advertising and marketing to youngsters, “together with the analysis of deceptive claims and imagery,” the doc mentioned.
Twenty years in the past, the meals trade launched The Kids’s Meals and Beverage Promoting Initiative as a dedication to solely promote merchandise that met sure vitamin parameters to youngsters below the age of 13. However the initiative is voluntary, and youngsters nonetheless view about 1,000 tv commercials yearly for unhealthy meals and drinks, based on a examine from the College of Illinois Chicago from 2024.
Kennedy’s testimony earlier than the HELP committee is the final in a string of congressional hearings for him over the previous two weeks across the proposed HHS price range for fiscal 12 months 2027.
Means, throughout her Senate affirmation listening to in February, had acknowledged she would “completely lend” her voice to assist a ban on tv commercials for junk meals aimed toward youngsters.
— CNBC’s Amelia Lucas contributed to this report.
Correction: The Kids’s Meals and Beverage Promoting Initiative applies to promoting to youngsters below the age of 13. A earlier model of this story misstated the age.
