Latest from Food Politics: RFK Jr letter to David Kessler's citizen's petition leaked

Remember former FDA commissioner David Kessler’s petition to the FDA to revoke GRAS status for refined carbohydrates as a way to immediately regulate ultra-processed foods? I wrote about this here on August 14, 2025. David Kessler, a physician, ...

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

By Marion Nestle September 29 2026 RFK Jr letter to David Kessler’s citizen’s petition leaked Remember former FDA commissioner David Kessler’s petition to the FDA to revoke GRAS status for refined carbohydrates as a way to immediately regulate ultra-processed foods? I wrote about this here on August 14, 2025. David Kessler, a physician, lawyer, and former FDA Commissioner, has done a great service for the Make America Healthy Again movement.  He has written a letter to RFK Jr presenting a Citizen’s Petition to the FDA: “Petition to Limit the Exposure of Refined Carbohydrates used in Industrial Processing in order to Prevent Obesity, Diabetes, and Cardiovascular Disease in Children and Adults.” The FDA has 180 days to respond to citizens’ petitions.  It did not come close to meeting this deadline. But now The Washington Post says that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr tried to meet it.  He wrote a letter in response in March but he White House held it up and it has never been sent.  The Post based its account on a leaked copy of the letter. I also acquired a leaked copy. Here it is. The letter is undated, and I do not know whether this is the latest version or the one obtained by the Post. Whatever it is, it’s impressive.  It’s thoughtful, well written, compelling, and referenced in detail. The draft I received came with two highlighted statements. The first contains RFK Jr’s statement of intention: I will be calling on companies to provide any safety information they have to HHS on the health impacts of refined starches and sweeteners to allow FDA to evaluate the GRAS status of the refined starches and sweeteners listed in your petition. The second states his endorsement of Kessler’s petition. I believe your petition points toward an historic opportunity to significantly improve the quality of our food supply and thus the health of our citizens. FDA’s statute and regulations require that GRAS status be based on the ingredient’s intended use. We want to see any information that proves these ingredients at the quantities they are being added to the food supply should still be generally considered safe. Today, HHS will begin seeking any detailed safety studies food companies may have conducted for proving the safety of the refined starches and refined sugars they are adding into the food supply. The letter states Secretary Kennedy’s further intentions: “during my time as Secretary, I intend to work across the Administration to oversee a process that will include at least the following actions:” Fully Implementing the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Engaging Congress, the States, the Food Industry, and the Public in a Strategy to Address the Concerns Raised by Ultra-Processed Foods. Ongoing and Systematic Reassessment of Ingredients and Additives of Concern. Added Sugar Reduction Strategy. Labeling to Better Inform Consumers. Facilitate Research and Technical Assistance to Industry. This signals that RFK Jr is serious about reducing ultra-processed foods and added sugars.  Of sugars, the letter says: I have directed FDA to develop an added sugar reduction strategy that will encourage food manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants to reduce added sugars in their products and provide greater transparency to consumers on added sugar content. On January 23, 2026, FDA’s Human Foods Program released its 2026 priority deliverables, which include specifics on this strategy. I have directed FDA to develop an added sugar reduction strategy that will encourage food manufacturers, retailers, and restaurants to reduce added sugars in their products and provide greater transparency to consumers on added sugar content. On January 23, 2026, FDA’s Human Foods Program released its 2026 priority deliverables, which includes this statement about sugar reduction. The strategy will focus on encouraging the food industry to lower added sugar in processed and prepared foods, proposing a nutrient content claim for added sugars (defining “low added sugar”), exploring targeted consumer education initiatives in collaboration with other federal agencies, investigating ingredient labeling and menu labeling requirements, exploring potential strategies for labeling of sugar alternatives that do not increase blood glucose, and assessing the use of low or no-calorie and non-nutritive alternative sweeteners. Comments The letter does not sound like it was written by RFK, Jr.  I wonder who wrote it. The letter is hard hitting; it threatens the food industry with major federal efforts to reduce consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugars. I can understand why it’s been held up.  It means the government is taking on the food industry, as promised by RFK Jr (“the food industry is poisoning America”). Will he take on the food industry?  Does he want to do that?  Will the White House let him? So far, the MAHA agenda has been mostly talk and no action.  I don’t see this being any different, but let’s wait and see. The post RFK Jr letter to David Kessler’s citizen’s petition leaked appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Layoffs: a sign of flagging food industry sales Is Big Food in trouble? Five existential threats. How is MAHA doing so far? Not so great.   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

---

Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz® • 650 E. Palisade Avenue Ste 2, PO Box 173 • Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632