With his sights set on making American food healthier, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has zeroed in on a beloved national beverage — a cup of sugary iced coffee.
The “Make America Healthy Again” advocate has vowed to improve American diets and called out popular coffee chains Dunkin’ and Starbucks for their sugary drinks during a food-focused event in Austin, Texas, last week, The Boston Globe reported.
“We’re going to ask Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, ‘Show us the safety data that show that it’s OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it,’” Kennedy said. “I don’t think they’re gonna be able to do it.”
Flavored iced coffees at Dunkin’ can have between 18 and 67 grams of sugar, while the chain’s frozen beverages can range from 100 to 180 grams.
Meanwhile, adding a flavored syrup to a Starbucks iced coffee adds approximately 20 grams of sugar to the drink. The chain’s frozen offering, known as the frappuccino, can have between approximately 40 and 80 grams of sugar.
It was not immediately clear whether the Trump administration planned to restrict sugary beverages at Dunkin’, Starbucks, and similar chains. The Independent has contacted Dunkin’, Starbucks and the Health and Human Services Department for more information.
News of the HHS secretary’s potential plans was first reported by the Globe, and drew intense anger from many of its Dunkin’ obsessed readers.
“Them’s fighting words, especially in Massachusetts,” one social media user commented under the article on Facebook.
Another chimed in, “My dunks is safer than his cocaine and tanning bed, but ok,” along with three laughing-crying emojis. “This guy,” the user added.
Another Facebook user noted, “This is coming from the guy who went swimming in a bacteria-filled river before checking if it was ‘safe.’”
Even Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey reacted to Kennedy’s plan to potentially alter Dunkin’ iced coffee. She shared an edited version of the “Come and Take it” flag, which represents Texas pride. Her version, however, featured a Dunkin’ iced coffee underneath the star.
Inspired by their governor, several other X users shared punny drawings of snakes wrapped around Dunkin’ iced coffee that said “Donut Tread on Me,” referencing the historic “Don’t Tread on Me” flag.
Kennedy has pushed to reform the food ingredient approval system known as “Generally Recognized As Safe.” The GRAS category was originally meant for common ingredients like vinegar and salt, but has come to include thousands of other ingredients over time — including those commonly found in ultraprocessed foods.
A proposed action to tighten the approval system is under review by the White House, according to the report.
Since taking office, Kennedy has also waged an aggressive campaign against ultra-processed foods, which he says are poisoning Americans
During his confirmation hearing, Kennedy told lawmakers that food makers have been allowed to “mass poison American children.” Several months later, in May, he said: “It's common sense that ultra-processed, nutrient-poor food contributes to chronic disease.”
Kennedy is now looking to tighten federal rules to ensure food makers face greater scrutiny when they change their recipes. He has also prompted states, including Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, to enact their own regulations.
As part of his “Take Back Your Health” Tour, Kennedy has traveled across America to promote parts of his MAHA agenda, namely, urging Americans to eat more “real” food and less processed ingredients.
Kennedy has spent more time talking about healthy foods than his controversial vaccine policies in recent months, though administration officials told the Washington Post that “vaccines are not popular issues to talk about.”
The White House dismissed that there was any official change in messaging, saying its agenda had “mass appeal.”
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