Efforts by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reform the United States food system have encountered significant resistance within the White House, raising doubts about the future of a key element of his public health agenda. Kennedy’s push, which began gaining momentum during Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, centers on defining and limiting the consumption of ultra-processed foods as part of a broader strategy to combat chronic disease.

Tensions surfaced during a July meeting involving senior White House officials, where officials debated the precise definition of ultraprocessed food—a technical but pivotal criterion for Kennedy’s reform plans. The proposed definition targeted foods containing artificial colors, nonnutritive sweeteners, and chemical preservatives, with specific exemptions. While the Department of Health and Human Services had spent months vetting the definition with scientific experts, White House staff expressed concern that it might encompass the vast majority of products found in American grocery stores and potentially encourage lawsuits against food manufacturers.

Calley Means, a senior aide to Kennedy, strongly opposed the calls for further review, accusing White House officials of protecting special interests and resisting change. According to sources, Means repeatedly questioned why the definition required more scrutiny, emphasizing that the issue was closed from his department’s perspective. This internal discord has stalled three separate initiatives targeting ultra-processed food consumption, a cornerstone of Kennedy’s food system overhaul.

Means has advocated for aggressive policy implementation during a potential second Trump administration under the banner “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA), pressuring the administration to deliver on health reforms for its supporters. However, White House officials have viewed these efforts as overly ambitious and not always realistic, suggesting difficulties in reaching compromise to ensure policies are both practical and legally sound. A White House spokesman emphasized ongoing collaboration with industry stakeholders to modernize nutritional guidance.

Following the July meeting, White House officials decreed the definition would undergo additional examination. Despite this, Kennedy’s team proceeded to plan a public announcement for August, which was unexpectedly canceled at the last minute. Attempts by Means and Trump’s nominee for FDA leadership, Heidi Overton, to release the definition later that month were also blocked by internal opposition.

Kennedy’s team has sought alternative avenues to advance stricter food policies. Earlier this year, the Agriculture Department proposed a new rule for school meals projected to increase costs by approximately $2 billion over five years. Means called for tougher restrictions on added sugars, increased protein requirements for breakfasts, and mandates for 100 percent whole grain products, adjustments that significantly raised the financial impact on school districts. USDA officials suggested gradual implementation to give manufacturers and schools time to adjust, but Means criticized any dilution of the standards, calling weaker regulations tantamount to tolerating the "poisoning" of children.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins encouraged cooperation between her agency and Kennedy’s team, but much of the rule’s responsibility shifted to Health and Human Services. Ultimately, the proposed changes became stalled at the White House level. A USDA spokesperson stated the administration remains committed to working collaboratively toward healthier school food options.