Health Hazard

The MAHA Commission report released last week has rightly raised concerns about children’s health—a matter that deserves urgent and thorough attention. But addressing these issues effectively requires more than isolated analysis; it demands a rigorous, evidence-based, systems-level approach. Without this, interventions may fall short of achieving meaningful improvements for our youngest and most vulnerable populations. 

Here are five things that stood out to me from the MAHA Commission report:

1. A food systems approach is required to properly protect public health, one that elevates the central role of food science in securing nutrition, ensuring food safety, and building sustainable food systems.
2. The report outlines several concerns contributing to children’s health challenges but lacks a holistic framework. A comprehensive strategy is critical to tackling these issues effectively.
3. Scientific insights must be transparent, consistent, and built upon all available resources—not selectively cited without clear criteria. Science-based regulations must guide policies and legislation to ensure decision-making is grounded in gold-standard consensus science, rather than fragmented data.
4. The report is critical of the imbalance in research funding sources, yet government research funding remains insufficient compared to industry investments. As investments decline across segments, we must fight for increased funding across all sources—government, public-private partnerships, and beyond. IFT has long advocated for more research support, underscoring the need for unbiased, transparent contributions to the field.
5. Over the next 80 days, the MAHA Commission will develop its action plan. Food scientists must be integral to this process. If gold-standard science is truly a pillar for improving public health as the report claims, it must shape policies that ensure a safe, sustainable, nutritious, and accessible food system for all.

At IFT, we advocate for a food systems approach—one that elevates the central role of food science in securing nutrition, ensuring food safety, and building sustainable food systems. 

This summer, you can witness cutting-edge food science discussions firsthand at IFT FIRST where key topics will be explored, including an essential Community Conversation on MAHA, which will take place Monday, July 14, at 10:30 a.m. For those eager to dive deeper into gold-standard science, IFT offers extensive resources on food additives, sugar reduction, ultra-processed foods, GRAS, heavy metals, and more that you can view here. 

Children’s health is too important to rely on fragmented analysis. It’s time for science to take center stage in policy decisions to ensure a healthier future, one research-backed solution at a time. 

For additional IFT resources that engage key issues in the global food system, check out these links:

• IFT Statement on Release of MAHA Commission Report (Comments) 
• Truth in Science Resources on Key Topics 
• Food Research Call to Action on Funding and Priorities (White Paper) 

Anna Rosales is IFT’s senior director of government affairs and nutrition.