60 Minutes: The Hidden Dangers of Ultra-Processed Foods
A recent 60 Minutes report shed light on a growing health crisis in America: the pervasive presence of ultra-processed foods in our diets. According to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., these foods are contributing to a simultaneous epidemic of obesity and malnutrition. The investigation reveals a concerning reality – half of the average American’s diet consists of these highly engineered products.
The GRAS Exemption: A 67-Year-Old Loophole
The core of the problem, as highlighted in the report, lies in a 67-year-old government exemption known as “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS). This exemption, enacted in 1958, allows food companies to independently determine the safety of their ingredients without rigorous FDA oversight. Kennedy estimates that the FDA is unaware of the full extent of ingredients used in American products, with numbers potentially ranging from 4,000 to 10,000.
“There is no way for any American to know if a product is safe if it is ultraprocessed,” Kennedy stated. He argues that the industry “hijacked” the GRAS loophole, flooding the market with ingredients that haven’t undergone comprehensive safety reviews.
Industry Response and Farm Subsidies
The Consumer Brands Association, a leading food industry trade group, defends the GRAS process, claiming it fosters innovation and that companies adhere to FDA standards. However, food author Michael Pollan points to longstanding federal farm subsidies as a key driver of the problem. He explains that subsidies primarily benefit corn and soybean farmers, leading to an abundance of commodity corn and soy – raw ingredients for processed foods and animal feed – rather than whole, nutritious options.
“Cheap food is the goal of all governments,” Pollan explains. Removing these subsidies could raise corn prices, potentially impacting the entire food industry and consumers, a concern given the industry’s powerful lobbying efforts.
The Biological Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods
Former FDA head Dr. David Kessler emphasizes that human biology is ill-equipped to handle ultra-processed foods. These products are energy-dense, highly palatable, and rapidly absorbed, leading to altered metabolism and a surge in chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Kessler explains that manufacturers manipulate starch into various ingredients that target the brain’s reward circuits, promoting overeating and a lack of fullness.
These aren’t simply “empty calories,” Kessler warns. They are converted into fat in the liver, which then spreads to other organs, contributing to cardiometabolic disease.
New Dietary Guidelines and a Potential Shift
Kennedy recently issued new dietary guidelines advising against highly processed foods, acknowledging their contribution to the obesity epidemic. He states that 70% of Americans are either obese or overweight, not due to laziness, but because of the nutritional deficiencies and high caloric content of their food.
Kennedy believes that ultraprocessed foods pose an even greater public health crisis than tobacco, due to their wider impact. He is petitioning to revoke the GRAS status for dozens of refined carbohydrates, such as corn syrup and maltodextrin, requiring companies to prove their safety. He intends to use “gold standard science” to review these ingredients.
Legal Action and the Road Ahead
Ten manufacturers of ultraprocessed foods are facing a lawsuit filed by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, alleging they knowingly engineered addictive and dangerous products while concealing the risks. The Consumer Brands Association declined to comment on the lawsuit, reiterating their adherence to FDA safety standards.
The fight against ultra-processed foods is gaining momentum, with a growing call for transparency and accountability. As Kennedy stated, changing how America views these foods is crucial for protecting public health.
Learn more about the dangers of processed foods: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – Ultra-Processed Foods
