White House Draft Suggests Kennedy Won’t Push Strict Pesticide Regulations

"The report is not final, but indicates good news for the food and agriculture industries." 

"A highly anticipated White House report on the health of American children would stop short of proposing direct restrictions on ultraprocessed foods and pesticides that the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has called major threats, according to a draft of the document that was reviewed by The New York Times.

The report, if adopted, would be good news for the food and agriculture industries, which feared far more restrictive proposals than the ones outlined in the draft. Through his “Make America Healthy Again” movement, Mr. Kennedy has sought to overhaul the nation’s diet by pushing those industries to make major changes.

The draft includes an array of policy proposals calling for research into topics as distinct as electromagnetic radiation and children’s oral health.

It also recommends action on health initiatives, like efforts to increase breastfeeding rates, address infertility and educate the public on the dangers of vaping."

Dani Blum, Benjamin Mueller and Alice Callahan report for the New York Times August 14, 2025.

Source: NYTimes, 08/19/2025