What RFK Jr.’s War on Corn Syrup Could Mean for Your Grocery Basket | Global News Avenue

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s incoming nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, has long criticized the use of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in thousands of everyday grocery items. That’s how the controversial nominee — who has also made unsubstantiated claims linking some vaccines to autism — faces corn growers, food manufacturers and others as his nomination moves to the U.S. Senate. One reason for the strong opposition from some members of Congress.

If Kennedy is confirmed, he will lead 13 major federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), giving him immense power to change the distribution of food in America’s grocery carts. thing. . He is seeking large-scale change and believes “whole departments, like the nutrition department” in the agency he will lead “have to go.”

So if companies look for alternatives to HFCs or continue to use them and raise prices, consumers could see big changes in their favorite products — from breakfast cereals to sodas to condiments.

RFK Jr.’s proposed changes to food and agriculture

High-fructose corn syrup has long been a staple in highly processed foods from sodas to snacks, but has been criticized for its links to obesity and chronic disease. To combat its use, Kennedy proposed reforms to two major areas of the U.S. food system: government subsidies that lower the price of high-fructose corn syrup and nutrition programs.

Kennedy had little power to change these subsidywhich is the result of a law passed by the United States Congress. However, he would have the authority to restrict food stamp recipients through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program from using them to pay for sugary drinks and highly processed foods. Kennedy also vowed to eliminate processed foods from federally subsidized school lunches.

Given his desire to disrupt the status quo and the health concerns surrounding HFCS, Kennedy may also direct the FDA to review HFCS’s status as a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) ingredient (an official designation). If the FDA determines that HFCS is no longer GRAS, it could ban it, but there’s no indication Kennedy plans to take that route.

High fructose corn syrup market size

The global HFCS market is expected to reach US$9.5 billion by 2025, with North America accounting for approximately 40% of the market and China accounting for approximately 20%. In the United States, it is primarily used as a sweetener in beverages and baked goods.

Food manufacturers have historically preferred HFCS to sucrose because federal corn subsidies make HFCS 10 to 30 percent cheaper; domestically produced and easier to obtain; it is a liquid, so it is easier to transport and mix into foods; and it works by retaining moisture The role of preservatives.

Major manufacturers using HFCS include the following companies:

• nestle: A leading global food and beverage company known for its diverse products, including snacks and frozen meals
• Pepsi: Key Players in Snacks and Beverages Market
• Mondelēz International (Yideliz): Known for its candy and snack brands
• General Mills (geographic information system): Produces a variety of packaged foods, including cereals and snacks
• Kraft Heinz (Hack): Significant producer of condiments and packaged foods

U.S. HFCS consumption has declined significantly

Per capita consumption of HFCS in the United States has steadily declined to about 60% of its peak in 1999, when the average American consumed more than 150 pounds of all sweeteners, a record.

Since then, as medical authorities and news media have reported the health effects of high-fructose corn syrup, many manufacturers have switched to other sweeteners such as refined cane and beet sugar, and corn prices have risen.

It’s challenging to know exactly how much prices might rise if high-fructose corn syrup is no longer used. Based on information contained in previous studies, switching from HCFS to other sweeteners will increase the cost of some products, especially beverages, by approximately 10% to 15%. But in recent years, the situation has changed a lot with changes in corn and sugarcane prices. Most importantly, any price increase will be dependent on the price of any substitute ingredients.

A wildcard in this regard is incoming President Trump’s promise to provide higher tariff cane and beet sugar from Mexico and Brazil, which will increase the price of these sweeteners and thus the food produced with them. This may make HCFS economically viable as an ingredient, even if it becomes slightly more expensive.

RFK Jr. to face boycott from farmers, food producers

Kennedy’s war on high-fructose corn syrup has been met with fierce resistance from food companies, corn farmers and the members of Congress who represent them, despite growing concerns about its effects. Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the senior senator from Iowa, a major corn-growing state, has said he would resist any changes that would cut corn production.

Major food manufacturers such as Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM), PepsiCo and Kraft Heinz have also pledged to lobby against Kennedy’s moves, particularly any changes to corn subsidies.

However, Kennedy may also find support across the ideological spectrum for his high-fructose corn syrup-related initiatives, given media reports depicting links between the sweetener and obesity and chronic disease. In 2024, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., introduced legislation to ban the use of HFCS and certain food additives in the United States More than a decade ago, then-New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried unsuccessfully to ban the city’s vast array of sugary soft drinks.

Health Effects of High Fructose Corn Syrup

Nearly 40% of U.S. adults are obese, a number that has doubled since 2014, and the number of severely obese people has increased by a quarter since 2014. Research shows that high-fructose corn syrup contributes more to weight gain than consuming the same level of regular sugar, primarily because of how the body processes it. Sweeteners can bypass normal appetite control, leading to increased cravings and overconsumption of sugary foods.

Consuming large amounts of HFCS can reduce insulin sensitivity, which can lead to increased blood sugar levels and may lead to type 2 diabetes and metabolic disorders. Additionally, children appear to be particularly susceptible to these health effects. Research shows that reducing HFCS intake can improve liver health, especially in the case of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and significantly reduce triglyceride levels.

bottom line

If Kennedy is confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, his proposals for HFCs could further reshape American eating habits. His plan to limit food stamp purchases on sugary drinks and eliminate processed foods from school lunches would directly impact millions of Americans.

However, his broader vision for reforming corn subsidies will require congressional support, underscoring the complexities of food economics, public health and the power of U.S. agricultural interests.