U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the nation’s high rates of chronic disease are being driven in part by widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods, calling many of those products “food-like substances” during a televised interview promoting healthier eating and exercise.
Kennedy made the remarks after appearing in a fitness video with musician Kid Rock, which both men said was intended to encourage Americans to adopt healthier habits. They discussed the effort on One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, where Kennedy said roughly 70% of the food Americans consume is ultra-processed.
“We have the worst chronic disease burden of any country in the world, and it’s because of our food,” Kennedy said. “Seventy percent of the food that we eat is ultra-processed food. It’s not really food. It’s food-like substances.”
70% of the food that we eat is ultra-processed. It's not really food — it's poison. We're going to change that. We are laser focused on making REAL whole food available for every American family at prices they can afford. pic.twitter.com/dbRG9r18tN
— Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) February 24, 2026
Kennedy said his department is working to reduce reliance on highly processed foods through changes to federally supported meal programs, including school lunches and military dining facilities. The federal government provides about 45 million school meals daily, he said, and new regulations and recommendations are being prepared to improve nutritional quality.
As an example, Kennedy cited a pilot program with chef Robert Irvine at military bases, where meals using fresh, whole foods are being provided at a lower cost than existing food service contracts. Kennedy said current meals average about $18 per soldier per day, while the pilot program costs about $10.
This is a day in history for me. 🇺🇸 Our soldiers deserve the best — fresh, nutritious, locally sourced food cooked to order. That's exactly what we're bringing to the table at 42 Bistro. Years of work culminating in a new beginning of military feeding. pic.twitter.com/bC5Q3WbiPO
— Robert Irvine (@RobertIrvine) February 18, 2026
Kennedy also said the administration is seeking to expand access to whole foods through retailers participating in federal nutrition assistance programs, with proposed requirements to increase the availability of fresh food options.
The comments align with recently released federal dietary guidance issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which emphasizes whole, nutrient-dense foods and recommends sharply reducing highly processed products, added sugars, and refined carbohydrates.
🚨Big news for Americans! Real food is BACK!
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) January 7, 2026
The Dietary Guidelines for 2025-2030, released today by @SecKennedy and @SecRollins, reestablish food—not pharmaceuticals—as the foundation of health and reclaim the food pyramid as a tool for nourishment and education.
🔗… pic.twitter.com/hcj7tnfjMN
The new guidelines highlight rising rates of obesity and diet-related disease in the United States, noting that more than 70% of adults are overweight or obese and that chronic illness accounts for a large share of national health spending. Officials say the guidance is intended to shift federal nutrition policy toward what they describe as “real food” and away from reliance on packaged and industrially processed products.
Kennedy said his department’s efforts will continue through updated school lunch standards, changes in military food service, and broader public education campaigns aimed at reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods and increasing access to fresh ingredients.
