The reaction to the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) report has been mixed, largely depending on which side of the debate you’re on. For the ag industry, though, it raises fresh concerns, especially regarding how Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lumps agricultural products in with ultra-processed and unhealthy foods. The implication has sparked backlash from producers who feel unfairly targeted. For the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), it’s a familiar fight against a now-familiar critic.
NPPC Chief Legal Strategist Michael Formica says the organization has reviewed the MAHA report and found a mix of common ground and deep concerns. While there are parts that the NPPC can support, other sections unfairly criticize modern agriculture. Formica notes he’s not surprised by the report’s tone, given his history with Secretary Kennedy, who previously spent years as a trial lawyer suing the pork industry and other ag groups over what many view as activist-driven claims. Formica has gone head-to-head with Kennedy in courtrooms before and says the report’s conclusions reflect that same adversarial stance.
Formica points to several concerning recommendations buried in the footnotes of the report, which he says stray beyond Health and Human Services’ scope of responsibility. He believes these suggestions reflect a broader agenda that unfairly targets agriculture under the guise of public health.
In August, Secretary Kennedy is expected to unveil a strategy outlining how the MAHA recommendations will be implemented. Formica says the NPPC will be watching closely and actively engaging in the process to ensure the interests of American pork producers and farmers are protected. He emphasizes that agriculture must have a voice in any public health discussion.
