Kennedy launches initiative to improve baby formula safety

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a new initiative to improve baby formula safety and nutritional value. This follows concerns about high levels of heavy metals in some formulas. Kennedy discussed the initiative on "Fox & Friends," where he mentioned that while reports indicate high levels, they do not violate current safety guidelines. He criticized the FDA for not testing baby formula adequately for contaminants in the past. The new program, called "Operation Stork Speed," aims to review baby formula recipes that have not been updated since 1998. The goal is to ensure that formulas are safe and healthy for infants. The initiative will include testing for heavy metals, improving nutrition labels, and encouraging new formula development. Kennedy highlighted the need for more domestic formula production. He pointed out that the current market is dominated by only a few companies, which leads to high prices. By increasing competition, he believes quality will improve and prices will drop. The government will also ease some regulations to help companies change ingredients more easily. Kennedy expressed concerns about food dyes and chemical additives that are not commonly used in Europe. He stated that these ingredients might be linked to rising health problems in the U.S. Kennedy plans to review the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) designation, which allows certain food ingredients to skip extensive safety checks. He asserted that many unregulated additives contribute to chronic diseases in the country and vowed to reassess old ingredients for safety.