The big, bold “Make Our Children Healthy Again” report just dropped, and MAHA voters aren’t happy. After months of hype, leaks, and even a family rebellion against Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the official MOCHA report went public this week. And it’s safe to say: the farm lobby is toasting champagne while parents who care about toxic chemicals are left shaking their heads and wondering what the heck happened.
Parents are disappointed because the report is weak on a lot of fronts. It barely touches on the most important topic: pesticides. The report is hundreds of pages long but gives just six mentions to pesticides being used in farming and on our food. What’s even worse there wasn’t a mention of Glyphosate or Atrazine, two of the biggest chemical boogeymen in agriculture. Instead of bold reform Like SEcretary Kennedy promised us, the report calls for more “research” and some fluffy talk about “precision agriculture.” Translation? Kick the can and hope nobody notices.
Now, compare that to what actually made it in. Whole milk is back on the menu in schools—great for the dairy industry. Schools are now free to offer it to students without restriction once again. MOCHA also recommended fast-tracking permits for grocery stores in “underserved” areas. Sounds nice until you realize it’s just deregulation dressed up as virtue.
Parents are also pissed because the report magically drops any talk of cutting sugar or salt in processed foods. That’s not an oversight—that’s a win for Big Food and their lobbyists.
Nutrition expert Marion Nestle didn’t hold back. She called it a missed opportunity and slammed the report for watering everything down. “Where’s the policy?” she asks. “Where’s the action?” Great questions, Marion. Seems like MAHA turned into a PR stunt instead of a real plan to protect kids.
So here we are. A report meant to clean up our food system now looks more like a love letter to the industries causing the mess in the first place.