Today, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) released the following statement regarding the MAHA Commission Report.

“The renewed focus on improving our overall health, and examining how food contributes to health outcomes, is something to be encouraged. Working to make all Americans healthier is certainly worthwhile of a whole-of-government approach. That effort should be evidence-based and driven by cutting-edge science – not social media algorithms or ‘health’ influencer trends. 

“The MAHA Commission Report is an over-ambitious document that fails to meet those standards. It cites fake studies, misrepresents nutritional and agricultural science, and mistakes correlation for causation. Curiously, the report also celebrates programs like one in France that requires schools to ‘source half their products from local sources and prohibit vending machines,’ despite the fact the Trump administration recently canceled USDA’s Local Foods for Schools Program, which connected U.S. public schools with local farmers.  

“As the MAHA Commission moves toward the August 12 deadline for publishing its national strategy, I strongly encourage its leadership to meaningfully engage with agricultural and nutrition stakeholders and scientists so that it can contribute meaningfully to the public dialogue and policymaking effort to improve health in America.”