Food giants take on Kennedy-backed state laws

• "Anybody who works with this group to block state action [is] undermining every single governor in the nation who has passed legislation to remove dyes from school lunch or ultra-processed foods," Vani Hari, a top MAHA influencer and food activist, told Axios.

Driving the news: Americans for Ingredient Transparency says it supports the administration's efforts to make food healthier. But the group wants federal standards instead of the emerging patchwork of state regulations, which it says confuse consumers and limit their choices.

• Relying on states "drives up our costs at the grocery store, and hurts our small businesses," a coalition video states.

But federal standards passed by Congress could run counter to Kennedy's efforts to get states to draft laws like those passed in West Virginia and Texas that would prevent products with certain additives from being sold in the state or used in public-school lunches.

• Kennedy has also secured commitments from companies to phase out certain ingredients, and his surrogates have warned of regulations for those that don't follow through.
• "We support states leading the effort to bring healthier food to families and children. We will work with Congress and stakeholders to establish strong national standards to Make America Healthy Again," Richard Danker, HHS assistant secretary for public affairs, said in an email.

Zoom in: The new food industry group has White House ties: It's run by Andy Koenig, a former special assistant to President Trump, and Julie Gunlock, a conservative policy advocate who previously worked in Republican congressional offices.

• It also engaged Trump pollster Tony Fabrizio, whose firm surveyed 1,000 voters and found 87% at least somewhat preferred nationwide regulation of food and beverages over state-by-state.
• The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The other side: Key MAHA influencers are pushing back. Mary Holland, CEO of anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, said the food conglomerates are "attempting to hijack the MAHA movement."

• Hari said food companies should use the same ingredients across the country. But state policies are a better way to compel that, since they can be implemented faster and tend to be stricter than what the federal government would require, she said.

• "For us to rely on the bureaucracy that exists within Washington to get this work done solely is very ignorant," Hari said.
• Consumer Reports also came out against the coalition.

Between the lines: Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) — chair of the Senate MAHA Caucus — is in the early stages of drafting legislation to create uniform federal standards for food ingredient transparency, his office confirmed to Axios.

• Marshall has promoted the effort since at least May, but is now trying to distance himself from the food and beverage interests.
• "This effort is being led solely by the Senator and aims to reflect the concerns of those who have long advocated for stronger food standards," Payton Fuller, Marshall's communications director, said in an email.
• "The legislation is unrelated and has no connection to the Americans for Ingredient Transparency Coalition."

What we're watching: Many strategists see the MAHA base as crucial for Republican success in the 2026 midterms. Americans for Ingredient Transparency seems to be trying to acknowledge the activism around cleaning up the food supply but emerge with more industry-friendly guardrails.

• The polling memo from Fabrizio Ward advises that a nationwide standard "inclusive of MAHA ingredient and transparency policies" could boost Republican congressional candidates' chances in the 2026 midterms.