Overview

• Kevin Hall, a senior NIH investigator, announced his early retirement, citing censorship of his research on ultra-processed foods under HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s leadership.
• Hall alleges his responses to a New York Times reporter were edited without his consent, and that he was blocked from presenting his findings at a conference.
• HHS has formally denied Hall's claims, calling them fabrications and asserting its commitment to supporting unbiased research and public health priorities.
• Hall’s resignation follows his March 28 letter to Kennedy and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, which raised concerns about censorship and interference but received no response.
• Experts warn that Hall's departure could hinder critical research on the links between ultra-processed foods and chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes.