A new federal report links America’s chronic childhood health crisis to toxic chemicals, ultra-processed food, and corporate sway over science and policy, but critics say it falls short of offering strong remedies.
Carey Gillam reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- The controversial "Make America Healthy Again" Commission, led by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., says U.S. children are facing unprecedented chronic illness due to synthetic chemicals, pesticides, and junk food, but it offers few concrete policy solutions.
- The report calls out corporate interference in chemical safety research and regulation, including cases where industries suppressed studies on PFAS and pesticides like glyphosate and atrazine.
- Public health experts welcomed the official acknowledgment of industry influence but criticized the report for soft-pedaling solutions and avoiding strong regulatory action.
Key quote:
“They actually say toxic chemicals are part of the problem with children’s health. I don’t think this administration is going to solve these issues... But now that this has been recognized by this White House, it’s not going to go back in the bottle.”
— Tracey Woodruff, Director of the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at UCSF
Why this matters:
Chronic disease and chemical exposure among kids are skyrocketing — and government acknowledgment, even without bold action, signals a potential shift in public policy. This new report from the MAHA Commission highlights decades of industry meddling in science, from Big Ag’s suppression of studies on glyphosate and atrazine, to chemical companies muddying the waters on PFAS toxicity. At the same time, there's a lot of reason for skepticism about the Trump administration's commitment to standing up to the powerful food, agriculture and chemical industries, since it has been aggressively rolling back environmental regulations since Inauguration Day.
Read more:
