WASHINGTON — The “Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy” released on Sept. 9 announces health plans for America’s children addressing such topics as chronic disease, through more than 120 initiatives.
The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission is chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. health and human services secretary.
“This strategy represents the most sweeping reform agenda in modern history — realigning our food and health systems, driving education, and unleashing science to protect America’s children and families,” Kennedy said in the announcement. “We are ending the corporate capture of public health, restoring transparency, and putting gold-standard science — not special interests — at the center of every decision.”
Among the focus areas of this strategy include science and research, regulation and certification reforms, public education and awareness, as well as collaborations with the private sector. The commission adds that among its mission is to find the “root causes” of the nation’s health crisis. In the White House’s MAHA announcement, the four drivers noted for chronic childhood disease, include: poor diet, lack of physical activity, chemical exposure, and the overprescribing of medicines.
“For too long health care has used a reactive approach to chronic diseases,” Dr. Marty Makary, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, commissioner said. “I am pleased to support the findings of the MAHA Commission to promote a more proactive approach, tackling root causes undermining the health and happiness of American children.”
“The MAHA Report provides a blueprint for the entire government to focus on solving the chronic disease crisis facing American children,” Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, National Institutes of Health, director said in the announcement. “We must make America healthy again so our children live longer and healthier lives than we will.”
Agriculture plans
Not only governmental officials, but U.S. agricultural industry representatives have been voicing support for the MAHA strategy and note a dedication to work in partnership to achieve the set goals of continuing to supply healthy meat and produce.
“America’s farmers and ranchers are at the heart of the solution — alongside doctors, parents, and communities — to fight chronic disease and protect future generations,” Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. agriculture secretary, said, in the announcement. She added that among the commitments that the agriculture department is seeking to gain is the voluntary removal of artificial food dyes from some major brands, assisting growers to improve soil health with includes the introduction of a regenerative farming pilot program, as well as assisting states with restricting “junk food and soda” from the SNAP program.
“Together with our partners at HHS and EPA, we are charting a new course, strengthening the health of our families, and ensuring the United States leads the world with the safest, strongest, and most abundant food supply,” Rollins added.
Poultry and meat industries
The nation’s poultry and meat industries are expressing their intent to work in collaboration with the new MAHA initiatives.
The National Chicken Council, “supports the White House’s goals to address childhood health and nutrition, and we stand ready to work with HHS and USDA to accomplish them,” Tom Super, NCC senior vice president of public affairs, said. “Combined with its nutritional value, positive health benefits, popularity, versatility and affordability, chicken is poised to be a key contributor in Making America Healthy Again and a key source of protein in the upcoming Dietary Guidelines.”
“We look forward to partnering with the Trump administration to keep nutrient dense, healthy, and affordable protein like chicken at the center of the plate,” Super added.
The National Turkey Federation touted the efforts of the governmental agencies and noted that the federation shares in their “commitment to supporting healthy, balanced diets that help American families thrive,” Leslee Oden, NTF president and CEO, said. “NTF commends MAHA’s efforts to modernize regulatory frameworks to streamline processes, while emphasizing that food safety must remain uncompromised.”
“Thanks to the hardworking men and women of the U.S. turkey industry, Americans can enjoy high-quality turkey that is lean, nutrient-dense, naturally low in fat and rich in high-quality protein, essential vitamins, and minerals,” Oden added. “Its versatility makes it an excellent choice for a wide range of meals and dietary patterns, whether served as a traditional roast, prepared on the grill, eaten on a sandwich or incorporated into everyday dishes.”
The Meat Institute notes that this plan is a “good first step toward recognizing the nutritional value of meat and poultry after years of misguided policies attacking meat consumption.”
“Science has shown what American parents have known all along: nutrient dense meat and poultry products are essential to a well-balanced diet,” Julie Anna Potts, Meat Institute president and CEO, said. “For years, previous administrations have tried to discourage consumption of meat, primarily for reasons unrelated to nutrition, and as a result our most vulnerable populations — children, adolescent girls, nursing mothers and seniors — no longer consume enough protein and critical nutrients like iron and zinc.”
The Meat Institute also applauded the MAHA strategy for supporting and seeking the adoption of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) protocols to increase food safety.
“The bold leadership of Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins will finally give Americans not only permission, but the encouragement to eat meat because it is a good, accessible source of nutrition for their families,” Potts said.
Agricultural approval
“Our food system has evolved and innovated over time to provide healthy and nutritious food to meet the diverse needs and preferences of American families; and we look forward to further innovations to improve health outcomes in America while ensuring farmers and ranchers can stock America’s pantries,” Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau Federation president, said, adding that, “A renewed focus on American-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, along with reintroducing whole milk into the school meal program can help provide a foundation for a lifetime of smart choices. Reducing or streamlining regulations in smart ways can allow farms operating on very thin margins to innovate, diversify and respond to consumer demand.”
Grain producers, such as the National Corn Growers Association, added approval for such MAHA aspects like the EPA’s process for pesticide review.
“The policy recommendations related to crop production, released today by the MAHA Commission, appear to be a reasonable and science-based approach for achieving its objectives,” Kenneth Hartman Jr., NCGA president and Illinois farmer, said. “We are encouraged that when the commission engaged with agricultural stakeholders and followed the science, it reaffirmed what we already know: EPA is the appropriate agency for regulating crop inputs. We are also delighted to see precision agriculture, soil health and land stewardship prioritized, as these are areas in which corn farmers have led the way for many years. We look forward to working with the administration and Congress as they turn to the implementation of the report.”
Also, regarding soil health, The Fertilizer Institute added in a statement that it “welcomes the opportunity to make soil health a larger part of the public dialogue concerning agriculture and the overall health of the American people. American agriculture shares many of the MAHA movement’s goals, such as improving the health of our children, as well as ensuring we are taking great care of the health of our land. We are only as healthy as the soil our food comes from and there is a role to play for both industry and the public sector.”

