The Make America Healthy Again movement has revolutionized what consumers see in grocery stores. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced plans last year to phase out artificial dyes, and major brands have followed suit: Campbell’s and general mills have Commitment to eliminate certain color additives Snacks and cereals from them. PepsiCo’s Doritos and Cheetos have “SimpleNKD“The product is a colorless, dye-free alternative to its neon orange counterpart.
But the implementation of HHS Updated Dietary Guidelines The measures introduced earlier this month could make it harder for many Americans to comply with rules the agency considers healthy. Economists and public health experts warn that many of the recommendations are too expensive for low-income Americans, exposing how the K-shaped economy — where the rich prosper while the poor struggle — finds its way into pantries and refrigerators.
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“We know food prices have been a top concern for many consumers over the past few years,” said David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University. wealth. “These products are priced at a higher price. Animal proteins are traditionally more expensive. Whole milk is more expensive than low-fat or reduced-fat milk. That’s a major issue. There’s certainly an affordability issue.”
Led by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the MAHA campaign Reject medical expertise A range of well-studied public health conventions include seed oils and processed foods, which Kennedy claims are linked to chronic disease. Kennedy led an overhaul of HHS, laying off thousands of people amid distrust of the current health care system Number of employees in the organization scientists warn Endangering the future of public health research. but beyond dispute Regarding the new dietary guidelines, specifically the focus on animal sources rather than plant-based ingredients, economists like Ortega worry that Americans and institutions like schools seeking to follow these new recommendations won’t have the means to do so.
K-shaped economy in action
this Federal Reserve Beige Book Articles published this month have shown that these new dietary recommendations will challenge the lower half of the “K”. The San Francisco Fed observed that low- and middle-income Americans are buying less protein to fit on tight budgets. It also reported that wealthy Americans continued to spend money, including on luxury goods.
Ahead of the new dietary guidelines, affordability is a top concern for many Americans. Grocery prices rose 2.4% in the past 12 months through December, according to the Labor Department data. Beef prices especially surge That trend is expected to continue into this year due to tariffs and shrinking herd sizes, Omaha Steaks CEO Nate Lemper said. As food prices rise last year, consumer sentiment Down nearly 20 pointsalthough it is slightly increased in the past two months.
Grocery is a major sticking point in affordability discussions because for poorer Americans, groceries account for the largest share of their spending. While the highest-income households in the U.S. spent the most on food in 2023 (nearly $17,500 on average), they spent the lowest percentage of income on groceries, at about 8%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture data. The lowest-income Americans spend only about $5,000 a year on groceries, but that accounts for more than 30% of their spending.
Concerns Beyond the Food Pyramid
The Trump administration insists that a healthy meal can be purchased for just a few dollars. in a interview news nation Last week, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins Claims the new guidelines won’t require Americans to spend more on their diet.
“We’ve done over 1,000 simulations,” she said. “A piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, tortillas and other things cost about $3 per meal. So there’s a way to do that that actually saves the average American consumer money.”
following a series Online backlash Regarding the meal being described, Rollins clarified to reporters outside the White House on Tuesday that she meant to describe a more “sturdy plate” with a chunk of chicken, a piece of broccoli, a baked potato and slices of bread.
There was no immediate response from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. wealthRequest for comment.
But addressing barriers to low-income Americans’ access to recommended foods involves more than just the price of groceries. Ortega believes there are structural reasons that may prevent people from adopting a healthy diet.
“Healthy eating is not just a choice. There are real limitations,” he said. “If nutrition guidance is to translate into real-world behavior, we must consider these factors: price levels, inflation dynamics, access constraints and time costs.”
Ortega noted that prioritizing all the ingredients requires more preparation time that low-income Americans working multiple jobs or balancing child care may not have. According to the USDA, more than 6% of Americans live in food deserts datameaning they don’t have easy access to grocery stores.
Ortega said because the updated dietary guidelines are just recommendations, consumers don’t necessarily have to follow them. But institutions such as schools that offer free lunches generally follow federal nutrition standards based on the guidelines. FY 2024, National School Lunch Program 4.8 billion lunches served Costing $17.7 billion. Some schools are stretched thin on resources such as food preparation equipment and staff, meaning the new guidelines may require more resources, but it’s unclear how schools will implement them.
“Many schools are using outdated kitchen equipment. They are understaffed because they cannot provide competitive wages,” said Meghan Maroney, campaign manager for the Federal Child Nutrition Program at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Tell hills. “They’re trying hard to put healthy meals together and they’re doing what they can, but if we really want to see a fundamental change in the way this country feeds its kids, then we need to invest in that.”
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