Big Food Fights Back: The Battle Over What's on Your Plate

Industry Forms New Group to Influence Food Rules

Big food companies are pushing back hard against efforts to regulate their products. They've formed a new group called Americans for Ingredient Transparency. This group wants to ensure food rules are decided at the federal level, not by individual states. They argue that state-by-state rules will make food more expensive for everyone.

Lobbying and the High Cost of Living

The food industry has been spending big bucks on lobbying. They're concerned about the high cost of living and how it's affecting Trump's voters. A recent poll shows that many Americans are struggling with grocery prices. In fact, 45% of people say food costs are their biggest expense, even more than housing or healthcare.

RFK Jr. Criticizes Processed Foods

RFK Jr. has been a vocal critic of processed foods. He claims these foods are making people sick, especially kids. He's been pushing for stricter rules on food additives and has even encouraged states to make their own rules if the federal government won't act.

Industry Fights Back

But the food industry isn't backing down. They say that state rules will lead to higher costs, and those costs will be passed on to consumers. They're also getting support from some lawmakers, like Sen. Chuck Grassley, who says he's open to discussing a federal standard.

Advocacy Groups Warn of Weak Federal Standards

Advocacy groups warn that a federal standard might not be as strong as state rules. They say that states often move faster to protect people's health. For example, California recently banned ultraprocessed foods in schools, and Texas requires warning labels on certain food additives.

Record Lobbying Spending

The food industry has been spending record amounts on lobbying this year. They're trying to influence the debate and make sure their interests are protected. They've even launched ad campaigns and hired political strategists to help their cause.

The Bigger Picture

In the end, this battle is about more than just food. It's about who gets to decide what's safe for us to eat and how much power big companies should have over our health.