Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his outspoken anti-vaccine stance and criticisms of conventional medicine, has now set his sights on a new target: Big Farming.
With his MAHA (Mission Against Harmful Additives) hat on, Kennedy is campaigning against High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), calling it a “formula for making you obese and diabetic.”
He’s vowed to take action by targeting the producers of this controversial ingredient and is focused on limiting its use in schools and food assistance programs.
Kennedy’s Strong Stance Against Processed Foods in Schools
Kennedy’s latest mission is clear—he wants to remove processed foods from school lunch programs and prevent food stamps from being used to buy sodas.
In a recent interview with Fox News, he emphasized how the current system is contributing to a rising diabetes problem among children, referring to unhealthy food as “poison.”
At 71, Kennedy’s words left no room for doubt: “I’m going to stop that.”
However, Kennedy’s ambitious goal is bound to face considerable opposition.
His stance puts him up against some of the wealthiest and most influential players in the country, many of whom have deep financial investments in the production and sale of HFCS.
A Fierce Battle with the Food Industry Giants
The battle is set to be fierce, as Kennedy’s efforts challenge the very industries that profit immensely from HFCS.
The production of HFCS in the United States is largely dominated by five major companies: Cargill, Ingredion Incorporated, Tate & Lyle, Global Sweeteners Holdings Limited, and Archer Daniels Midland Company.
These companies are no strangers to lobbying efforts, with Cargill spending $1.4 million on lobbying in 2024 alone.
It’s no surprise that these corporate giants, along with beverage companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper, are gearing up to fight back.
The stakes are high, as HFCS remains a central ingredient in countless products, including baked goods and breakfast cereals.
The Power of Big Ag and Big Food in America
Kennedy’s efforts are up against a multi-billion-dollar industry.
The Cargill-MacMillan family, for example, controls the largest privately owned company in the U.S. with a fortune of $60.5 billion. With such deep pockets, these companies exert enormous influence over policy decisions in Washington.
According to Bruce Babcock, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Kennedy faces an uphill battle due to the immense power of Big Ag and Big Food.
Babcock suggests that Kennedy’s campaign could easily be portrayed as an attack on American agriculture.
“Big Ag, Big Food have never failed. They get what they want,” Babcock notes, pointing out that any threat to HFCS would likely be framed as a threat to farmers’ livelihoods.
The Impacts on U.S. Farmers and Rural Communities
The consequences of Kennedy’s plans could extend far beyond just the food industry. The U.S. corn farming sector, which spans nearly 90 million acres, is the largest in the world.
Together, the five HFCS producers employ tens of thousands of workers, contributing significantly to rural economies.
Amanda Zaluckyi, a Michigan-based attorney and advocate for the farming industry, warns that Kennedy’s plans could devastate small, family-owned farms.
She believes his policies could lead to layoffs and farm closures, particularly in rural communities where agriculture is a vital part of the local economy.
Zaluckyi, who hails from a family of farmers, sees Kennedy as a “danger” to the farming community.
She argues that reducing demand for HFCS would have a ripple effect on the entire agricultural sector, potentially forcing many farmers into bankruptcy.
The Rural Vote and the Impact on Trump Supporters
Kennedy’s push against HFCS could also have political consequences, particularly in rural America.
The largest grain mills are located in Decatur County, Illinois, where 59% of voters supported Donald Trump in the last election.
Many of these voters are expected to be directly impacted by Kennedy’s policies, leading to potential backlash from rural Trump supporters.
Is There Science to Support Kennedy’s Claims?
While Kennedy’s stance on HFCS is bold, the science behind his claims is not conclusive.
There is no definitive proof that HFCS is worse for your health than other forms of sugar.
This lack of clear evidence complicates his efforts to build public support for his campaign against HFCS.
Furthermore, Kennedy’s proposals come at a time when the U.S. farming industry is still recovering from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rising costs and supply chain disruptions have already made life difficult for many farmers, and Zaluckyi expresses concerns that Kennedy’s policies could push the industry to the brink.
The Financial Strain on Farmers and Rural Communities
Zaluckyi highlights that farm margins are already thin, with the pandemic exacerbating financial pressures.
Farmers are facing rising input costs, while the prices they can sell their crops for have remained relatively stagnant. “
America has a legacy of multi-generational family farms,” she says, emphasizing the importance of preserving these farms for future generations.
Blake Hurst, a farmer and former president of Missouri’s Farm Bureau, echoes these concerns.
He warns that a push against HFCS could disrupt the entire farming industry, leading to higher prices for consumers and ultimately pushing more farmers out of business.
A War on Big Food or Big Agriculture?
Ultimately, Kennedy’s plans to take on Big Farming and HFCS will be met with stiff resistance from some of the most powerful and well-funded industries in the country.
As these companies and their allies prepare to fight back, it remains to be seen whether Kennedy’s bold stance can gain enough traction to effect real change in the U.S. food system.
The outcome of this battle could have wide-reaching consequences, not just for the food industry, but for the millions of Americans who rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
As Kennedy faces off against Big Ag and Big Food, the future of farming in America hangs in the balance.
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