Kennedy announced in a post on X that he met with Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol on Tuesday, who "shared the company's plan to further MAHA its menu." The Health Secretary has been meeting with prominent food and beverage corporations in recent weeks to get the industry on par with the agency's MAHA agenda.
During the meeting, Secretary Kennedy said he was "pleased to learn that Starbucks' food and beverages already avoid artificial dyes, artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and other additives."
Starbucks told Fox Business that the company has already been testing healthier drink options, such as a protein-focused sugar-free vanilla latte. Earlier this year, Starbucks slashed 30 percent of items menu items to simplify operations.
"Our diverse menu of high-quality foods and beverages empowers customers to make informed nutritional decisions, with transparency on ingredients, calories, and more," said Starbucks. "Plus, we keep it real—no high fructose corn syrup, artificial dyes, flavors, or artificial trans-fats."
In April, Kennedy and the FDA announced that all petroleum-based synthetic dyes would be phased out from the nation's food supply, with the help of voluntary support from food manufacturing companies. Both General Mills and Kraft Heinz agreed this week to remove FD&C artificial dyes from their products within the next two years.
Secretary Kennedy has referred to these color additives as "poisonous compounds" that offer "no nutritional benefit and pose real, measurable dangers to our children's health and development."
The Trump administration's MAHA initiative aims to "lead a coordinated transformation of our food, health, and scientific systems" to ensure that "all Americans - today and in the future - live longer, healthier lives, supported by systems that prioritize prevention, well-being, and resilience."
