Texas AG says he's investigating Kellogg's over ‘healthy' cereal claims
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Saturday his office is investigating WK Kellogg Co. for potentially violating consumer protection laws, launching a probe over the artificial food dyes in cereals that have rankled the Trump administration's 'Make America Healthy Again' faction.
In a statement Saturday, Paxton's office said the company — known for cereals such as Froot Loops and Apple Jacks — advertises its products as healthy despite containing blue, red, yellow, green and orange artificial food colorings. Paxton's office alleged that those additives have been linked to obesity, autoimmune disease, endocrine-related health problems and cancer.
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USA Today
30 minutes ago
- USA Today
Doritos, Mountain Dew could get warning labels in this state
Doritos, Mountain Dew could get warning labels in this state Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has yet to indicate if he plans to sign the bill into law. Show Caption Hide Caption FDA redefines what foods can be labeled as 'healthy' Foods will be required to contain certain ingredients and be under specific limits for added sugar, saturated fat and sodium to be marketed as "healthy." Scripps News A bipartisan bill out of Texas, awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott's signature, could change food and drink packaging as we know it nationwide. Texas Senate Bill 25 passed unanimously in the state senate before being forwarded to Abbott's desk on June 1, where it is under review. Among provisions for education on nutrition and health, one set of proposed regulations would require that packaging for food or drink items contain warnings about ingredients "not recommended for human consumption." The commonly used ingredients listed in the bill are legal to use in the U.S., but most are subject to some sort of ban or more stringent regulation in other countries State lawmaker Rep. Lacey Hull told Bloomberg that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called her to voice his support for the bill, which aligns with initiatives in his "Make America Healthy Again" movement. HHS press secretary Emily G. Hilliard told USA TODAY in an email that, "Secretary Kennedy encourages states to promote healthy practices and enhance consumer transparency in food labeling. Americans deserve to know what's in their food so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families." While the bill managed to reach across a contentious political aisle, it is not universally popular. John Hewitt, Senior Vice President of State Affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, urged the governor not to sign it in a statement shared with USA TODAY, saying, "The ingredients used in the U.S. food supply are safe and have been rigorously studied following an objective science and risk-based evaluation process. The labeling requirements of SB 25 mandate inaccurate warning language, create legal risks for brands and drive consumer confusion and higher costs." Gov. Abbott has yet to indicate if he plans to sign the bill into law. In a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday, June 3, press secretary Andrew Mahaleris said, 'Governor Abbott will continue to work with the legislature to ensure Texans have access to healthy foods to care for themselves and their families and will thoughtfully review any legislation they send to his desk.' What's in Texas Senate Bill 25 about food labels? Texas Senate Bill 25 would require that specific warning labels be placed on products intended for human consumption if they use certain ingredients like bleached flour, food dyes, sweeteners, oils and preservatives. Because manufacturers generally aim for uniformity and efficiency, as reported by Bloomberg, they will often expand practices employed to comply with state laws nationwide, meaning this change could impact the packaged food industry on a larger scale. The bill would require that manufacturers display the warning label prominently if their product contains one of 44 listed ingredients, most of which have some form of ban, warning or regulation in other Western countries despite being legal in the U.S. The proposed label reads as follows: "WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom." Manufacturers, and in some cases retailers, would also be required to post a similar statement on websites on which applicable products are offered for sale. This requirement would not apply to products not intended for human consumption; food prepared, served, or sold in restaurants or retail locations; drugs or dietary supplements; or agricultural products on which pesticides or other such chemicals were used in their production, storage or transportation. Regulations set by federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or Surgeon General would supersede these state-level rules, meaning products already overseen or required to utilize certain labels by these agencies would not need an additional warning. The FDA deeming ingredients safe or setting new guidelines for their use would also exempt them from labeling. Which ingredients are listed in the bill? acetylated esters of mono- and diglycerides (acetic acid ester) anisole azodicarbonamide (ADA) butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) bleached flour blue 1 (CAS 3844-45-9) blue 2 (CAS 860-22-0) bromated flour calcium bromate canthaxanthin certified food colors by the United States Food and Drug Administration citrus red 2 (CAS 6358-53-8) diacetyl diacetyl tartaric and fatty acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM) dimethylamylamine (DMAA) dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS) ficin green 3 (CAS 2353-45-9) interesterified palm oil interesterified soybean oil lactylated fatty acid esters of glycerol and propylene glycol lye morpholine olestra partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) potassium aluminum sulfate potassium bromate potassium iodate propylene oxide propylparaben red 3 (CAS 16423-68-0) red 4 (CAS 4548-53-2) red 40 (CAS 25956-17-6) sodium aluminum sulfate sodium lauryl sulfate sodium stearyl fumarate stearyl tartrate synthetic trans fatty acid thiodipropionic acid titanium dioxide toluene yellow 5 (CAS 1934-21-0) yellow 6 (CAS 2783-94-0) Which foods could be impacted? Packaged and processed foods of all kinds could be impacted by the bill. If it passes, consumers will begin seeing the warning on labels developed and copyrighted beginning in 2027. Chips, candy and snack products like Doritos, Ruffles, Lay's flavored chips, microwaved popcorn, M&Ms, Sour Patch Kids and Skittles would need to be labeled, along with cereals like Froot Loops and Cap'n Crunch. Sweets like Twinkies or Hostess snack cakes and packaged cookies like Oreos and Chips Ahoy! contain the offending ingredients, along with frozen dinners, instant noodles, some breads and even processed meats like sausages and hot dogs. Drinks like Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Capri Sun, Hawaiian Punch and Juicy Juice would also be affected. RFK Jr.'s push for ingredient reviews, tighter regulations In April, the FDA and RFK announced plans to "phase out" petroleum-based synthetic dyes previously allowed under FDA regulations from the U.S. food and drug supply by the end of 2026. No formal agreement or legislation was passed officially banning the substances. Instead, HHS and the FDA have a "mutual understanding" with the food industry that the dyes will be progressively removed, according to Kennedy. Are food dyes getting banned in the US?: What know to about 8 dyes being phased out During an April 22 press conference, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency intended to revoke the approval of some dyes and work with industry leaders to substitute petrochemical dyes with "natural" ones. A press statement released by the FDA also said it plans to establish a "national standard and timeline for the transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives." The FDA will authorize four new natural color additives and expedite the approval of more, according to its statement. The agency will also partner with the National Institutes of Health to research the effect food additives have on children's health and development.
Newsweek
41 minutes ago
- Newsweek
John Cornyn's Chances of Losing Republican Primary After 20 Years: Poll
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn trailed conservative Attorney General Ken Paxton in another Senate primary poll released on Tuesday as Republican voters consider ousting the incumbent who first elected more than 20 years ago, though a Cornyn spokesperson told Newsweek the survey "doesn't pass the smell test." Why It Matters Cornyn's precarious standing in the Texas Republican primary demonstrates deep divides among the state's conservative voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections when Democrats are eyeing the seat as a potential flip in their quest to win back a Senate majority. It's the latest intraparty battle for Republicans as President Donald Trump, who is so far staying neutral in the race, has reshaped the party over the past decade. What to Know The latest poll, conducted by GOP pollster Robert Blizzard for the Educational Freedom Institute and reported by Punchbowl News, found Paxton leading Cornyn by 22 points. Fifty percent of respondents said they planned to vote for Paxton in the primary, while 28 percent said they planned to support Cornyn. Paxton's lead was fueled by his support among "very conservative" GOP voters, 60 percent of whom plan to vote for him compared to 22 percent backing Cornyn. Texas Senator John Cornyn speaks with reporters in Washington, D.C. on April 7, 2025. Texas Senator John Cornyn speaks with reporters in Washington, D.C. on April 7, poll surveyed 600 Republican primary voters from May 27 to May 28, 2025, and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. Patrick Flavin, professor and interim chair of political science at Baylor University, told Newsweek the poll is concerning for Cornyn because both candidates had high name recognition, so his polling deficit is not because voters are unfamiliar with him. Both candidates had overall positive favorability ratings among Republican primary voters, but Paxton's stood at 65/22, compared with Cornyn's 48/37, according to the poll. "I think Cornyn is probably suffering from what's a larger issue in Texas politics, which is the divide in the Republican Party between a more Trump-supporting version versus a more traditional, business version," he said. "Paxton and Cornyn perfectly characterize those two factions in the Republican Party." Cornyn, first elected in 2002, faces an "uphill battle" because he cannot run to the right of Paxton on key issues to win over those more conservative voters. Instead, he can hammer away at Paxton's legal and ethical scandals, though it's less clear that will resonate with Texas Republicans. Cornyn campaign senior adviser Matt Mackowiak dismissed the poll in a statement to Newsweek. "It's silly season for polling and this one takes the gold medal. A poll conducted by a longtime Paxton supporter doesn't pass the smell test. We remain confident that once Republican primary voters fully understand Ken Paxton's record of ethical failures, mismanagement and corruption, we will win this primary," he said. He noted the latest independent poll from the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University showed a closer race, with 43 percent of respondents backing Paxton and 34 percent supporting Cornyn. Twenty-three percent of that poll's respondents were unsure how they would vote. On the Democratic side, former Representative Colin Allred, who unsuccessfully challenged Senator Ted Cruz in the 2024 Senate race, has been floated as a potential candidate, though he has not formally said he plans to run. Trump carried Texas by 14 points in the 2024 presidential race, a stronger showing compared to his 2016 and 2020 elections when the state was decided by the single digits. Flavin said how competitive the race becomes in November could depend on whether Cornyn or Paxton emerge victorious from the primary. Cornyn has a record of outrunning other Republicans, such as in 2020 when he won reelection by a wider margin than Trump's victory in the state. But there is a "significant chunk of independent-leaning Republicans" who may be concerned about Paxton, Flavin said. "Paxton would still be favorite, but my prediction is it would be a much closer race if Paxton is the nominee just because of the polarizing views that people have about him," he said. What People Are Saying Paxton on X, formerly Twitter, on April 9: "For years, John Cornyn has betrayed President Trump and the America First movement. Texas deserves better, and that's why I'm running for U.S. Senate." President Donald Trump told reporters last month: "I like Paxton, I like Cornyn, they're both good people. So, I'll make a decision somewhere along the line. But you have two very good men." What Happens Next The Texas Senate GOP primary is scheduled for March 2026, leaving Cornyn with months to work to close the gap and reshape the race. Meanwhile, it's unclear if any other Republicans plan to jump into the race or who may run on the Democratic side. The Cook Political Report classifies the race as Solid Republican, meaning it is "not considered competitive" nor "likely to become closely contested."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
RFK Jr.'s Gotcha Moment On CNN Goes Viral Again Amid ‘MAHA' Report Controversy
Footage of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once denying — live on CNN — saying something that he most definitely said has gone viral again amid controversy over non-existent studies that were cited in his wide-ranging 'Make America Healthy Again' report. In the clip, anchor Kasie Hunt immediately presented the receipts to Kennedy, who was then still an independent presidential candidate before dropping out of the 2024 race and endorsing his former rival, Donald Trump. Hunt teed up the moment by telling Kennedy: 'You have gained notoriety for your skepticism about vaccines, and over the summer in an interview, you said, 'There is no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective.' Do you still believe that?' Sewage water swimmer Kennedy replied: 'I never said that.' Hunt interrupted. 'So, stop me,' she said. 'We have the clip. Please play the clip.' Footage was then aired of Kennedy indeed saying that he believes 'there is no vaccine that is, you know, safe and effective.' KASIE HUNT: Over the summer you said, 'There's no vaccine that's safe and effective'. Do you still believe that?RFK JR: 'I never said that.'KASIE HUNT: 'Play the clip.'RFK JR (clip): 'There's no vaccine that is safe and effective.' (March 2024) — The Intellectualist (@highbrow_nobrow) June 2, 2025 'Sesame Street' Pride Post Triggers Conservatives Into Meltdown Mode Lindsey Graham's 'Deranged' Post About Greta Thunberg Is Condemned Online Maggie Haberman Reveals Why Trump World Was Secretly Glad To See Musk Go
