RFK Jr. Targets Ultra-Processed Foods 'Loophole'

HHS Secretary calls for greater oversight of food industry safety claims

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a '60 Minutes' interview, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. criticized long-standing exemptions that allow food manufacturers to determine the safety of ingredients in ultra-processed foods without oversight from the Food and Drug Administration. Kennedy said 'there is no way for any American to know if a product is safe if it is ultra processed' due to the industry's ability to self-regulate under the 'Generally Recognized as Safe' loophole.

Why it matters

Kennedy's comments highlight growing concerns about the prevalence of ultra-processed foods and additives in the American diet, and the lack of transparency around their safety. As HHS Secretary, Kennedy has made it a priority to push back on ultra-processed foods, an initiative that has gained some reluctant support even from his critics.

The details

Since 1997, food manufacturers have been allowed to conduct their own safety research of ingredients before putting them on the market, foregoing approval by the FDA if the ingredient is deemed 'Generally Recognized as Safe.' Kennedy said 'that loophole was hijacked by the industry and it was used to add thousands upon thousands of new ingredients into our food supply.' He noted that in Europe, there are only 400 legal food ingredients, compared to an unknown number in the U.S.

  • In a '60 Minutes' interview that aired on February 16, 2026, Kennedy made these comments.

The players

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The current Secretary of Health and Human Services, who has made addressing ultra-processed foods a priority during his tenure.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency responsible for regulating the safety of food and drugs in the United States.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“There is no way for any American to know if a product is safe if it is ultra processed.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (60 Minutes)

“That loophole was hijacked by the industry and it was used to add thousands upon thousands of new ingredients into our food supply. In Europe, there's only 400 legal ingredients.”

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services (60 Minutes)

What’s next

The FDA and Department of Agriculture are working to establish a uniform definition of 'ultra-processed foods' that can be used by federal regulators.

The takeaway

Kennedy's comments highlight the need for greater transparency and oversight in the food industry, as the current self-regulation model has allowed for the proliferation of potentially unsafe additives and ingredients in the American food supply.