Consumer Watchdog Responds to MAHA Commission Recommendations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224)-456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance criticized the newly-released Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy, presented to President Trump.  The recommendations, issued in response to the President’s Executive Order 14212 directing a federal crackdown on childhood chronic disease, include measures such as targeting food dyes and restricting approval processes for food ingredients—policies that could drive up costs for consumers.

In response, David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, offered the following comment:

“Millions of Americans have seen rapidly rising costs at the grocery store. The MAHA Commission recommendations will make this problem far worse while giving households fewer choices. The report notes that the ‘FDA will continue to advance and implement policies to limit or prohibit the use of petroleum- based food dyes.’ If consumers have concerns about the healthiness of certain food dyes, the response is not to ban them—but allow consumers the choice between different ingredients. Now, consumers will be stuck with an option they may not want that is up to 10 percent more expensive than the alternative. The report also advocates a costly ‘post market review’ process for food additives despite the approval process already taking up to twelve years. Consumers shouldn’t need to take out a second mortgage to go grocery shopping.

“The report also recommends increasing ‘oversight and enforcement’ over drug advertising and potentially limiting marketing food to children. Given Secretary Kennedy’s previous calls to unconstitutionally ban drug advertising on television, this vague language is concerning. Millions of Americans rely on food and drug advertisements to get essential information on new and innovative products, and greater restrictions are not the answer.

“The report laudably includes some calls to bolster consumer choice. For example, the report recommends reforming ‘outdated and unnecessary food standards of identity.’ These unneeded rules micromanage exactly how much of each ingredient needs to be in a food product, stifling innovation and raising costs. Getting rid of these standards would be a big step in the right direction for consumers. Unfortunately, the report’s call for greater regulation drowns out constructive ideas that would improve Americans’ lives. Secretary Kennedy should promote choice and innovation instead of more red tape on red (or blue or green) products.”

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Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis and dissemination of information on the government’s effects on the economy.