In his latest push to “Make America Healthy Again,” U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared Tuesday that “sugar is poison.”
Kennedy’s remarks came during a highly publicized conference at the Department of Health and Human Services, delivered from a stage filled with so-called MAHA moms and their children, The New York Times reported Wednesday.
Although no one from the food industry attended the event, Kennedy said he has “an understanding” with major food manufacturers to remove petroleum-based food colourings from their products by 2026. However, no companies have publicly agreed to the changes.
IDFA eliminating artificial colours
On the same day, the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) announced a voluntary commitment to eliminate certified artificial colours—such as Red 3, Yellow 5 and Blue 1—from milk, cheese and yogurt sold in U.S. K-12 schools for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs by July 2026.
“The Healthy Dairy in Schools Commitment goes above and beyond state and federal regulations to help ensure children in grades K-12 continue to have access to the milk, cheese and yogurt options they enjoy without any certified artificial colours,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO.
Kennedy’s comments follow recent guidance from the American Dental Association (ADA), which praised a scientific report that will inform updates to federal dietary guidelines and emphasized the need to lower sugar intake. The ADA also called for more robust inclusion of oral health in future reports.
“The ADA generally supports the findings and recommendations of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, including the brief mention of the bi-directional relationship between diet and oral health,” ADA president Dr. Brett Kessler wrote in a Feb. 10 letter to the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We are especially pleased with the scientific report’s acknowledgement that lowering sugar and acid exposures and drinking fluoridated water are safe and proven strategies to maintain good oral health,” Kessler added.
The committee noted that the body of research on oral diseases, specific nutrient recommendations, eating disorders and five other topics had not expanded significantly since the 2020 report—meaning key dietary recommendations are unlikely to change in the upcoming 2025 guidelines.
“From a dental perspective, no amount of sugar can be consumed without increasing the risk for tooth decay.” ADA
Substantial public health concern
Still, the ADA commended the committee for identifying sugar as a substantial public health concern, citing current consumption trends.
“From a dental perspective, no amount of sugar can be consumed without increasing the risk for tooth decay,” the ADA wrote. “Even milk has a measurable amount of sugar.”
The ADA urged health officials to keep the recommendation that added sugars comprise less than 10 per cent of daily caloric intake and to continue research into the direct causal relationship between sugar and oral diseases.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also recommends limiting added sugars to less than 10 per cent of daily calories for both children and adults. To put that in perspective, a single can of pop contains roughly 85 per cent of that daily limit, or about 10 teaspoons of sugar.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, first published in 1980, provides science-based advice on what and how much to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, prevent disease and promote health. The guidelines are updated every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services, based on recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.
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