MAHA is breaking through.
Biden’s FDA chief was GRILLED in a Senate hearing today over artificial food dyes, the obesity and diabetes crises, and the corrupt food industry.
He had a SHOCKING moment of moral clarity about his own role in this crisis.
Here are 10 KEY MOMENTS:🧵
Biden’s FDA chief was GRILLED in a Senate hearing today over artificial food dyes, the obesity and diabetes crises, and the corrupt food industry.
He had a SHOCKING moment of moral clarity about his own role in this crisis.
Here are 10 KEY MOMENTS:🧵
“An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders opened the hearing by laying out a full picture of the crisis we face: “We have a major obesity epidemic as well as an epidemic in diabetes.”
“They are both directly related and they are getting worse … and the cost of treating these illnesses is staggering.”
“According to the American Diabetes Association, the total cost of diabetes in the United States was nearly $413 billion, up 27% over the past six years.”
“That is an unbelievable and unsustainable amount of money.”
“Some 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. These two epidemics go hand in hand. The time is long overdue for us to pose some very simple questions.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders opened the hearing by laying out a full picture of the crisis we face: “We have a major obesity epidemic as well as an epidemic in diabetes.”
“They are both directly related and they are getting worse … and the cost of treating these illnesses is staggering.”
“According to the American Diabetes Association, the total cost of diabetes in the United States was nearly $413 billion, up 27% over the past six years.”
“That is an unbelievable and unsustainable amount of money.”
“Some 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. These two epidemics go hand in hand. The time is long overdue for us to pose some very simple questions.”
Bernie Sanders names corruption in the food and beverage industries as the primary culprit of our obesity and diabetes epidemics.
“How did it happen that, according to the CDC, the rate of childhood obesity in America has tripled since the 1970s and has gotten so bad that 1 out of every 5 children in our country is now obese?”
“How has it happened that over 40% of adults in the United States today are obese?”
“In my view, the answers to these questions are not very complicated. For decades, Congress and the FDA have allowed large corporations to make huge profits by enticing children and adults to consume ultra-processed food and beverages loaded up with sugar, salt, and saturated fat.”
“There is growing evidence … that these foods are deliberately designed to be addictive, similar to cigarettes and alcohol, and lead to a higher rate of type 2 diabetes.”
“Shockingly, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal, ultra-processed foods make up an incredible 73% of our nation’s food supply.”
“Bottom line: much of the food that we as Americans are now consuming are making us unhealthy and are contributing to the fact that our life expectancy is significantly lower than that of many other wealthy countries.”
“None of this is happening by accident. The food and beverage industry is spending $14 billion a year on advertising to push these unhealthy products into the American consumer.”
“Even worse … $2 billion of this money is spent to directly advertise these unhealthy products to our children in order to get them hooked on these foods at an early age.”
“How did it happen that, according to the CDC, the rate of childhood obesity in America has tripled since the 1970s and has gotten so bad that 1 out of every 5 children in our country is now obese?”
“How has it happened that over 40% of adults in the United States today are obese?”
“In my view, the answers to these questions are not very complicated. For decades, Congress and the FDA have allowed large corporations to make huge profits by enticing children and adults to consume ultra-processed food and beverages loaded up with sugar, salt, and saturated fat.”
“There is growing evidence … that these foods are deliberately designed to be addictive, similar to cigarettes and alcohol, and lead to a higher rate of type 2 diabetes.”
“Shockingly, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal, ultra-processed foods make up an incredible 73% of our nation’s food supply.”
“Bottom line: much of the food that we as Americans are now consuming are making us unhealthy and are contributing to the fact that our life expectancy is significantly lower than that of many other wealthy countries.”
“None of this is happening by accident. The food and beverage industry is spending $14 billion a year on advertising to push these unhealthy products into the American consumer.”
“Even worse … $2 billion of this money is spent to directly advertise these unhealthy products to our children in order to get them hooked on these foods at an early age.”
The FDA, Bernie Sanders said, has done next to nothing in the face of this existential crisis.
“What has the FDA done to address these epidemics which have impacted the health of millions of Americans and cost us hundreds of billions of dollars each year?”
“As far as I can tell, the answer is: not much.”
“Now is the time for us to seriously combat the type 2 diabetes and obesity epidemics in this country. In order to do that, we must have the courage to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry, which every day is undermining the health and wellbeing of our children.”
“The NIH has estimated that if the United States ban fast food advertising marketed to children, we could cut the childhood obesity rate by 18%.”
“What has the FDA done to address these epidemics which have impacted the health of millions of Americans and cost us hundreds of billions of dollars each year?”
“As far as I can tell, the answer is: not much.”
“Now is the time for us to seriously combat the type 2 diabetes and obesity epidemics in this country. In order to do that, we must have the courage to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry, which every day is undermining the health and wellbeing of our children.”
“The NIH has estimated that if the United States ban fast food advertising marketed to children, we could cut the childhood obesity rate by 18%.”
Sen. Tommy Tuberville forced the FDA to admit that they haven’t actually studied the infamous artificial food dye Red 40 in “over a decade.”
Tuberville: “The FDA has a position that food colorings like Red 40 are safe for our kids … Do both of you stand behind that?”
First, Dr. Califf dodged the question: “I’m gonna refer that to Mr. Jones.”
Then, Jim Jones admits: “We have not evaluated Red 40 in over a decade.”
Tuberville: “Why?”
Jones: “At FDA, we have not evaluated the safety of Red 40 in over a decade. Over a decade ago, that was the conclusion that FDA made.”
Tuberville: “Red 3 has been known to cause cancer in cosmetics, but we still allow it to be put in our food. I don’t understand that.”
Jones: “Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization for it, and we are hopeful that within the next few weeks, we will be acting on that petition.”
Tuberville: “If we know something is deadly for anybody that ingests it, how do we continue to just study that and not say enough’s enough?”
Tuberville: “The FDA has a position that food colorings like Red 40 are safe for our kids … Do both of you stand behind that?”
First, Dr. Califf dodged the question: “I’m gonna refer that to Mr. Jones.”
Then, Jim Jones admits: “We have not evaluated Red 40 in over a decade.”
Tuberville: “Why?”
Jones: “At FDA, we have not evaluated the safety of Red 40 in over a decade. Over a decade ago, that was the conclusion that FDA made.”
Tuberville: “Red 3 has been known to cause cancer in cosmetics, but we still allow it to be put in our food. I don’t understand that.”
Jones: “Red 3, we have a petition in front of us to revoke the authorization for it, and we are hopeful that within the next few weeks, we will be acting on that petition.”
Tuberville: “If we know something is deadly for anybody that ingests it, how do we continue to just study that and not say enough’s enough?”
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Dr. Califf suggested: “The US government has the purchasing power, so why not purchase healthy food” for SNAP recipients?
Bernie Sanders said this was “the most important point of the hearing.”
Dr. Califf admitted: “What’s going on here is that the food industry has figured out that there’s a combination of sweet, carbohydrate and salt that goes to our brains, and I think it’s addictive. That’s my opinion.”
“I think it’s the same neural circuits that are involved in opioid addiction and other kinds of addiction.”
Sanders: “You said the food industry is producing products which are unhealthy and addictive. The question of course is, that’s exactly what gone on, what the hell have we done about it over the last 15 years?”
Dr. Califf admitted: “What’s going on here is that the food industry has figured out that there’s a combination of sweet, carbohydrate and salt that goes to our brains, and I think it’s addictive. That’s my opinion.”
“I think it’s the same neural circuits that are involved in opioid addiction and other kinds of addiction.”
Sanders: “You said the food industry is producing products which are unhealthy and addictive. The question of course is, that’s exactly what gone on, what the hell have we done about it over the last 15 years?”
Sen. Mike Braun summarized that American well-being is “built upon no attention to wellness and prevention, and expensive remediation.”
Watch Bernie Sanders grill FDA chief Dr. Robert Califf and DEMAND to know WHY our kids are so sick.
Sanders: “According to the CDC, the rate of childhood obesity in America has tripled since the 1970s.”
“From where I’m standing, the FDA has not responded in any way with the urgency of the crisis. How long does it take to put a bloody label on a product?”
“I would like you to tell me why when countries around the rest of the world with fewer resources than we do are able to put labels on their products warning parents about the dangers of those products to their kids, how come the most powerful and wealthiest nation in the world is unable to do that?”
Califf: “Let’s talk about tobacco.”
“We have lost in court on that issue … what sounds simple, given the current state of judicial affairs, First Amendment rights, the fact that corporations have the same tights as individuals, every little thing we do, unless specifically, in detail instructed by Congress, it’s not just that we lose in court, but—”
Sanders: “I understand all that. But … have you pointed a finger at those people who are the cause of the problem?”
“Have you had the courage to take on a very powerful food and beverage industry?”
“Have you done your job in alerting the American people to the danger and rallying members of Congress to stand up to the special interests who are causing these problems?”
Califf: “With all due respect, I’ve been working on this problem for all of my career.”
“I think we all wish that we had gotten to the goal sooner that you described, I’m not contesting that, but I do believe an appropriate discourse for this committee: we need to carefully reflect on the issues in play right now that would allow this to happen, and I’m really heartened to hear the bipartisan support for this, because much of what we try to do frankly gets blocked—”
Sanders: “By whom? Let’s be honest here. The food and beverage industry spends hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbying and on campaign contributions. You tell me the role that they are playing in destroying the health of America’s children.”
Califf: “Well, I’m not gonna contest your comment about the amount of money spent on lobbying … but a lot of the changes that those of us who are interested in better health would like to make are blocked at the level of legislation for reasons—”
Sanders: “I’m still not hearing you. What is the reason that our kids are unhealthy? What role does this industry play? Even now, you’re getting out of office. Are you prepared to tell us that this committee, this Congress needs to take on the food and beverage industry, whose greed is destroying the health of millions of people?”
Califf: “Well, I’m not gonna castigate the people that work in the food and beverage industry—”
Sanders: “You’re not?”
Califf: “No.”
Sanders: “That is your job!”
Califf: “No, it’s not to castigate, it’s to point out how to make progress in this area. We have an industry that if you tried to change it overnight, there are farmers all over the United States who would not be able to grow the crops they’re currently growing. So, there needs to be a plan and it needs to be implemented in a mature, thoughtful way across the country.”
Sanders: “How many years does it take to do it? 14 years enough time? How many kids have died and gotten sick during those 14 years?”
Califf: “I want to see it change as much as anyone, but we have to do it in a way that considers all the factors—”
Sanders: “Protecting the interests of the food and beverage industry.”
Sanders: “According to the CDC, the rate of childhood obesity in America has tripled since the 1970s.”
“From where I’m standing, the FDA has not responded in any way with the urgency of the crisis. How long does it take to put a bloody label on a product?”
“I would like you to tell me why when countries around the rest of the world with fewer resources than we do are able to put labels on their products warning parents about the dangers of those products to their kids, how come the most powerful and wealthiest nation in the world is unable to do that?”
Califf: “Let’s talk about tobacco.”
“We have lost in court on that issue … what sounds simple, given the current state of judicial affairs, First Amendment rights, the fact that corporations have the same tights as individuals, every little thing we do, unless specifically, in detail instructed by Congress, it’s not just that we lose in court, but—”
Sanders: “I understand all that. But … have you pointed a finger at those people who are the cause of the problem?”
“Have you had the courage to take on a very powerful food and beverage industry?”
“Have you done your job in alerting the American people to the danger and rallying members of Congress to stand up to the special interests who are causing these problems?”
Califf: “With all due respect, I’ve been working on this problem for all of my career.”
“I think we all wish that we had gotten to the goal sooner that you described, I’m not contesting that, but I do believe an appropriate discourse for this committee: we need to carefully reflect on the issues in play right now that would allow this to happen, and I’m really heartened to hear the bipartisan support for this, because much of what we try to do frankly gets blocked—”
Sanders: “By whom? Let’s be honest here. The food and beverage industry spends hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars on lobbying and on campaign contributions. You tell me the role that they are playing in destroying the health of America’s children.”
Califf: “Well, I’m not gonna contest your comment about the amount of money spent on lobbying … but a lot of the changes that those of us who are interested in better health would like to make are blocked at the level of legislation for reasons—”
Sanders: “I’m still not hearing you. What is the reason that our kids are unhealthy? What role does this industry play? Even now, you’re getting out of office. Are you prepared to tell us that this committee, this Congress needs to take on the food and beverage industry, whose greed is destroying the health of millions of people?”
Califf: “Well, I’m not gonna castigate the people that work in the food and beverage industry—”
Sanders: “You’re not?”
Califf: “No.”
Sanders: “That is your job!”
Califf: “No, it’s not to castigate, it’s to point out how to make progress in this area. We have an industry that if you tried to change it overnight, there are farmers all over the United States who would not be able to grow the crops they’re currently growing. So, there needs to be a plan and it needs to be implemented in a mature, thoughtful way across the country.”
Sanders: “How many years does it take to do it? 14 years enough time? How many kids have died and gotten sick during those 14 years?”
Califf: “I want to see it change as much as anyone, but we have to do it in a way that considers all the factors—”
Sanders: “Protecting the interests of the food and beverage industry.”
Dr. Califf had an incredible moment of moral clarity about the chronic disease crisis:
“I’ve had this nightmare that I was head of this agency that my great-grandkids read about called the FDA, where a society let people gain a pound of weight every year, and then to fix it, they invented a drug at $20,000 a year to try to deal with it.”
“I’ve had this nightmare that I was head of this agency that my great-grandkids read about called the FDA, where a society let people gain a pound of weight every year, and then to fix it, they invented a drug at $20,000 a year to try to deal with it.”
Near the end of the hearing, Sen. Ed Markey took five minutes to go on a rant against RFK Jr. and “misinformation.”
Sanders had stern words for the room when Markey finished: “I’m not quite sure that the urgency of the issue has been made as apparent as it should be, but we are dealing with an extraordinary crisis.”
“When 1 out of 5 of our kids is obese, when millions of people are struggling with diabetes, when we spend … over $400 billion a year treating diabetes and other related illnesses, we have a major crisis.”
Sanders had stern words for the room when Markey finished: “I’m not quite sure that the urgency of the issue has been made as apparent as it should be, but we are dealing with an extraordinary crisis.”
“When 1 out of 5 of our kids is obese, when millions of people are struggling with diabetes, when we spend … over $400 billion a year treating diabetes and other related illnesses, we have a major crisis.”
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