U.S. farm groups call Kennedy’s ‘MAHA’ report unscientific, fear-based
Glacier FarmMedia—Several U.S. agriculture groups say the federal Make America Healthy Again report, released Thursday, misrepresents the work of farmers.
“The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides,” said the National Corn Growers Association in a report.
The report, overseen by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, says it aims to establish “a clear, evidence-based foundation for the policy interventions, institutional reforms and societal shifts needed to reverse course” on health issues ranging from environmental chemicals to diet and lack of physical activity.
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U.S. farm groups call Kennedy’s ‘MAHA’ report unscientific, fear-based
Several U.S. agriculture groups say the federal Make America Healthy Again report, released Thursday, is fear-based and anti-science. The report takes aim at what U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy has called a crisis of increasing rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, cancer, mental health disorders and other health issues.
The report is named after the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, social movement aligned with Kennedy. Kennedy has said there is a national crisis of increasing rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, cancer, mental health disorders, allergies and neurodevelopmental conditions like autism.
Taking aim at ‘ultra-processed food’
Kennedy said there was consensus among the commission’s members to prioritize what he called the ultra-processed food crisis and to work to improve the food American children eat.
The report called for enhanced surveillance and safety research into drugs and childhood health outcomes and clinical studies comparing whole-food to processed-food diets in children.
The definition of ultra-processed food is hotly debated, while the report describes it as industrially manufactured products.
Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a food and health watchdog, said the report recycles longtime concerns of Kennedy, from vaccines to seed oils.
“To the extent that they come up with good ideas, they’re going to run into the self-inflicted wound of their own decimation of the federal workforce. Many of their better ideas will not be doable,” Lurie said.
Pesticide safety
The report also highlighted studies linking health disorders in humans and animals to the weed killers glyphosate and atrazine, but did not call for specific regulatory changes or restrictions on pesticides used in farming. It said the chemicals should be further researched.
One section of the report warns of the “corporate influence” on scientific research and claims “an analysis of a common pesticide found that 50 per cent of non-industry research found it harmful, compared to 18 per cent of industry-funded studies, which also reported fewer significant adverse results.”
Many of the MAHA activists that surround Kennedy were present in Washington for the release of the report, which they largely applauded as a vindication of their work.
But, one such activist, Kelly Ryerson, who campaigns against the use of glyphosate-based pesticides, called the report “very cautious on the subject of pesticides,” adding that she’d like to see more Environmental Protection Agency action on the topic.
Pesticides well studied, farmers say
American farm groups condemned the report’s stance on pesticides as anti-science and unfair to the agriculture sector.
“Decades of extensive research and testing show that pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, can be applied safely for their intended uses,” the National Corn Growers Association said.
“If the administration’s goal is to bring more efficiency to government, then why is the secretary of Health and Human Services duplicating efforts by raising questions about pesticides that have been answered repeatedly through research and reviews by federal regulatory bodies?”
The Corn Growers called on the administration “to respect the existing body of science on pesticides and, moving forward, to include America’s farmers in discussion as this process evolves.”
The American Soybean Association called the report “brazenly unscientific and damaging to consumer confidence.”
Saying up is down and down is up
The association specifically decried the report’s targeting of seed oils, including soybean, corn and canola, which it refers to as “ultra-processed fats” and claims they could contribute to inflammation.
Significant research conducted over decades shows that plant-based oils are low in saturated fats and can improve health outcomes,” the association said, citing a March 2025 study which suggests seed oils are healthier than butter.
“This is truly a case of saying up is down and down is up,” said American Soybean Association director Alan Meadows.
“We’re discouraging people from consuming heart-healthy oils and driving them to instead use fats that will make them less healthy and cost them more in the process.”
Farmers shut out
Several groups called on the government to address the report’s shortcomings and bring farmers to the table.
Despite many requests to be included, farmers weren’t involved in developing the report, said American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall.
This despite the report calling them “critical partners in the success of the Make America Healthy Again Agenda.”
It’s “deeply troubling for the White House to endorse a report that sows seeds of doubt and fear about our food system and farming practices, then attempts to celebrate farmers and the critical role they play in producing the safest food supply in the world,” said Duvall.
“We are carefully examining the nearly 70 pages of contradictory assertions and look forward to further discussions with administration officials,” Duvall said. “President Trump has voiced his trust in farmers many times and we urge him to ensure a transparent process going forward with farmers.”
The American Soybean Association also called on Trump to intervene and “correct the glaring misinformation and anti-farmer findings in this first report.”
The MAHA report was ordered to be delivered within 100 days of its executive order on February 13. The next step will be for the commission to submit a “Make our Children Healthy Again Assessment” implementation strategy based on the report’s findings by mid-August.
—With files from Reuters
Source: Farmtario.com