Lifestyle & Healthresearch summary
Calley Means says corporate money has derailed the MAHA agenda after leaving the administration
In a recording with Joe Rogan, the recently departed official names glyphosate and an unreleased ultraprocessed food definition as the places where industry pressure won out.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor or another qualified professional about your own situation.
What Means told Rogan
A recently departed administration official, Calley Means, told podcaster Joe Rogan in a recording released Friday that the Trump administration's MAHA agenda has been derailed by corporate interests and the influence of money. [1]
Means pointed to the fight over glyphosate, an herbicide that many MAHA advocates argued causes grave health consequences. [1] Means recounted an 'almost violent reaction' from industry groups that pressured agencies against researching or restricting glyphosate. [1]
The resignation
Means announced the resignation in a post on X, saying the exit came with tremendous respect for President Trump and RFK. [2]
According to the Wall Street Journal, Means was annoyed by sluggish progress on MAHA and greatly frustrated with the influence food companies and special interests had within the administration. [3] The Washington Post reported that Means helped arrange a call between Kennedy and Trump shortly after Trump survived an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. [2]
The ultraprocessed food definition
The administration had teased a federal ultraprocessed food definition in August without ever releasing it, after Means had spent months working on it. [2]
The definition faced food-industry opposition, with potential lawsuits, costs and business impacts among the concerns. [2]
The wins Means listed
Means pointed to MAHA wins including restricting soda purchases through SNAP, revised dietary guidelines, a voluntary phaseout of certain food dyes, and federal support for psychedelic medicine research. [2] Means also listed GRAS reform and overhauling government food procurement, in addition to Dietary Guidelines reform, psychedelic reform, removing soda from SNAP and removing food dyes. [3]
Companies including Nestlé and Conagra pledged phased removals of petroleum-based synthetic dyes from their product lines after HHS and FDA measures. [2]
Where the administration moved against MAHA goals
The administration's EPA weakened mercury emissions standards and rolled back drinking-water limits for certain PFAS chemicals, moves that drew MAHA opposition. [2]
Casey Means was later nominated for surgeon general but did not secure enough support for confirmation. [2]
What this means for you
If you buy packaged food, Nestlé and Conagra pledged phased removals of petroleum-based synthetic dyes from their product lines. [2] The dye phaseout is voluntary. [2]
If you want a federal definition of ultraprocessed food, none has been released since the August tease. [2] If you use SNAP, soda purchases are restricted. [2]
If you follow the glyphosate debate, Means says industry groups pressured agencies against researching or restricting it. [1] If you follow water and air policy, the EPA weakened mercury emissions standards and rolled back drinking-water limits for certain PFAS chemicals. [2]
Sources
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