Overview

• On June 19, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, who agreed to further align the company’s menu with the Make America Healthy Again initiative.
• Starbucks already removes artificial dyes, flavors, high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweeteners from its food and drinks and is piloting lower-sugar options such as a sugar-free vanilla latte topped with protein banana cold foam.
• In April, the FDA and HHS unveiled measures to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic food dyes nationwide, relying on voluntary industry support.
• General Mills and Kraft Heinz have pledged to eliminate FD&C artificial colorants from their products by the end of 2027.
• The Make America Healthy Again initiative seeks to overhaul the US food, health and scientific systems to reduce childhood chronic diseases and extend healthy lifespans.