Trump’s pick for health secretary has many dangerous views – but some good ideas, too | Devi Sridhar
RFK Jr’s proposal to remove fluoride from tap water is a matter for debate. But his plans to improve school lunches and crack down on additives are laudable
The United States and Britain: two countries divided by a common language and by very different approaches to health, whether it’s how healthcare is accessed, what kind of food products are sold in supermarkets, what is advertised on TV or even what is in the water that we drink from our taps. Having lived in both countries for an extensive period, the UK, in my opinion, takes a more sensible approach to implementing pro-health and wellbeing policies, closely linked to EU regulations. But the US could soon be following suit, under a range of proposals from a surprising source: Donald Trump’s nominee for health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr. As I laid out last month, many of his ideas are potentially dangerous for public health – from bizarre conspiracy theories to anti-vaccineviews and campaigning – and completely divorced from data and reality. But a couple of them could turn out to be beneficial.
For example, the US still allows certain additives banned by the UK and EUto be added to ultra-processed foods such as cereals, sweets and biscuits, despite the fact that they have been linked to hyperactivity in children. Kennedy has suggested this week that he will ban some of these in food products. Depending on what exactly he does, this isn’t a radical suggestion: it may just put the US in line with what is done in other countries. It’s the same with his suggestions to regulate the advertising of pharmaceutical products and improve the nutritional quality of school meals.
Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.
Continue reading...-
Trump has made a good start
A series of early moves has breathed fresh life into the business communityFinancial Times - 1d -
RFK Jr., Trump’s Pick for Health Secretary, Faces First Senate Confirmation Hearing
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies in confirmation hearings before the Senate’s Finance Committee on Wednesday, and will appear Thursday before the health committee.The New York Times - 2d -
Has Trump promised too much on US economy?
He won the election partly to fix inflation but Trump may find his pledges on prices and tariffs conflict, say experts.BBC News - Jan. 18 -
Nepal's leader says the country has 'too many tigers'
Yahoo News - Jan. 16 -
Nepal's leader says it has too many tigers. Does it?
Wild tigers killed nearly 40 people in Nepal between 2019 and 2023. Solutions are hard to come by.BBC News - Jan. 16 -
Trump names pick for Air Force secretary
President-elect Trump on Thursday named Troy Meink, a top spy chief who has previously served as a missile engineer, as his pick for secretary of the Air Force. Trump said in a statement on Truth ...The Hill - Jan. 16 -
Energy Secretary Pick, Chris Wright, Has Been an Evangelist for Fossil Fuels
Wright, the founder of a fracking firm, testified that he would back all forms of low-carbon energy as well as gas, oil and coal.The New York Times - Jan. 15 -
Confirmation hearing for Trump's VA secretary pick delayed
The confirmation hearing for President-elect Trump's pick for the next the secretary of Veterans Affairs, former Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), has been delayed by a week until Jan. 21. Sen. Jerry ...The Hill - Jan. 14
More from The Guardian
-
Trump to impose tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China
US neighbors hit with 25% tariff and China with 10% as Trudeau pledges ‘forceful but reasonable’ response. Donald Trump has vowed to impose sweeping tariffs on Canada , Mexico and China ...The Guardian - 7h -
Medical jet carrying six people crashes in Philadelphia, setting homes on fire
Jet Rescue Air Ambulance said it could not ‘confirm any survivors’ aboard plane that went down near Roosevelt Mall. A medical transport jet carrying a pediatric patient and five others crashed into ...The Guardian - 2h -
Hamas to release Israeli father amid ‘grave concerns’ for wife and children
Yarden Bibas scheduled for release with Keith Siegel and Ofer Calderon on Saturday in latest handover of hostages. . Hamas has announced it will release Yarden Bibas on Saturday, the Israeli father ...The Guardian - 16h -
Former Fox Sports reporter accuses top executive of sexual assault in lawsuit
Julie Stewart-Binks filed lawsuit on Friday in Los Angeles Former reporter is suing network and exec Charlie Dixon Dixon is also co-defendant in separate January complaint A former Fox Sports ...The Guardian - 4h -
Ukraine war briefing: Russian missile attack on world heritage site in Odesa damages historic buildings and wounds seven
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Norwegian diplomats among those in epicentre of ‘deliberate strike’ on Unesco-listed district. What we know on day 1,074. See all our Ukraine war coverage Continue ...The Guardian - 1h
More in World
-
Women’s Ashes: Australia v England only cricket Test, day three – live
Updates as Australia seek a series sweep at the MCG Australia all out 440 after Mooney scores maiden century Any thoughts? Email Jonathan Maybe the declaration won’t be required after all. ...The Guardian - 12m -
Sri Lanka v Australia: first men’s cricket Test, day four – live
Updates from the fourth day of the first Test in Galle Australia take early wickets as Sri Lanka slump to 156-8 Any thoughts? Email Rob 46th over: Sri Lanka 145-5 (Chandimal 68, Kusal Mendis ...The Guardian - 15m -
DeepSeek will not derail Wall Street’s tech rally, say fund managers
Chinese start-up could reorder winners and losers from AI boomFinancial Times - 1h -
Norway Seizes Russian-Crewed Ship Suspected of Cutting an Undersea Cable
The authorities said they believed the vessel may have been involved in damaging the cable, the latest act of apparent sabotage in the Baltic Sea.The New York Times - 1h -
Ukraine war briefing: Russian missile attack on world heritage site in Odesa damages historic buildings and wounds seven
Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Norwegian diplomats among those in epicentre of ‘deliberate strike’ on Unesco-listed district. What we know on day 1,074. See all our Ukraine war coverage Continue ...The Guardian - 1h