Latest news with #ChuckFleischmann


Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Moment RFK Jr calmly dismantles Republican over food dyes... before lawmaker's industry ties are exposed
Robert F Kennedy Jr, head of HHS and crusader against food dyes, squared off with Tennessee Rep Chuck Fleischmann over the risky additives that have infiltrated nearly every food on the shelves. Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries, appeared to take RFK Jr's pledge to rid the food supply of artificial colors personally, and its potential impact on jobs in his district is enormous. 'I know the FDA has taken significant steps to ban or phase out synthetic food colorings over the years, and I respect that,' Rep Fleischmann said. 'Current colors, though, that have been used and are approved by the FDA have been deemed safe for many years.' Food dyes like Red 40, which have, in high quantities, been linked to hyperactivity and developmental issues in children, are FDA-approved under the agency's Generally Recognized As Safe designation. GRAS is a self-reporting system that allows companies to determine ingredient safety based on the conclusions of a scientific panel. RFK Jr has the approval pathway in his cross-hairs, having said in the past that food companies have been allowed to fly under the radar for too long. Kennedy said: 'We think we have good science that links almost all of these dyes with ADHD, with neurological injury, with cancer.' Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the HHS chief and a vocal opponent of artificial food dyes, clashed with Tennessee Representative Chuck Fleischmann over the dangerous additives now found in almost every grocery item RFK and fellow members of the administration made the industry-shaking announcement last week that it plans to work with food companies to quickly phase out the use of Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, and Green 3 by the end of 2026 and start using natural alternatives, which the FDA will approve or deny first. 'We've been working with the food industry and we've found the food industry very receptive,' RFK told Rep Fleischmann. 'They've agreed to phase out the two worst of them, which is Orange B and Red citrus three, and the other seven dyes within two years, and some of the food companies like Tyson's food have already eliminated them because of our talks.' Kennedy added that the FDA has already approved three natural food dye alternatives, though: galdieria extract blue, butterfly pea flower extract, and calcium phosphate. He suggested last month that more additives could be next, telling the crowd: 'We're going to get rid of the dyes and we're going to get rid of every ingredient and additive in food that we can legally address. Neither Kennedy nor the FDA has stipulated whether the administration has signed formal agreements with specific food companies to ensure they comply. Industry lobbyists told Bloomberg that no deals were in place to remove the dyes. Consuming red 40 and other dyes regularly has been linked to hyperactivity in some children with and without ADHD. Studies have suggested that eating the dye can exacerbate symptoms or trigger behavioral changes. Rep Fleischmann, whose jurisdiction includes Chattanooga-based M&M Industries, appeared to take RFK Jr's pledge to rid the food supply of artificial colors personally, and its potential impact on jobs in his district is enormous Some studies have established links between the dye and changes in children's behavior and changes in hormone activity, contributing to thyroid problems Canadian researchers have also found Red 40, also known as Allura red, can hamper the gut's ability to absorb nutrients, water, and electrolytes, increasing a person's risk of developing an inflammatory bowel disease. They say this wearing down of the body's defenses could make people more susceptible to ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Your browser does not support iframes. Blue 1 is found in candies like gummy bears. Both of these ingredients have been associated with hyperactivity and inattention in children. Several food dyes are banned or contain warning labels in Europe, where food and drug regulators have more oversight than the FDA. Unlike European regulators, who proactively review ingredient lists and formulations before products reach store shelves, US regulators tend to take a more reactive approach.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to return land in Monroe County to Cherokee tribe passes U.S. House for fifth time
MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) — A bill returning historical sites in Monroe County to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians passed the U.S. House of Representatives for the fifth time. Representative Chuck Fleischmann's (R-TN) bill, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Historic Lands Reacquisition Act, passed the House in a unanimous vote. This was the fifth time the bill has passed the House, usually by a vast majority. However, it has never been voted on in the U.S. Senate. Tribes still waiting for return Native ancestors nearly a century after TVA development This bill would place 76.1 acres of land along the Little Tennessee River and the Tellico Reservoir into a trust for the benefit of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The bill specified that the land will be used for cultural, historical and recreational purposes. 'It is long past time for Congress to fulfill its promise to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and return the sacred land taken forcibly from them due to tragic and misguided federal policies of the past,' said Congressman Fleischmann. He continued, 'Today marks the fifth consecutive time that my bill to restore 76.1 acres of land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has overwhelming passed the House of Representatives, and it is time for the Senate to pass this bill and send it to President Trump's desk for him to sign into law.' 'Dolly', the oldest rhinoceros in the U.S., dies at Zoo Knoxville The land in question includes the memorials for the cities of Tanasi and Chota, once capitals of the Cherokee Nation, whose sites were flooded and destroyed when Tellico Dam was built. It also includes the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum which celebrates the man who invented the Cherokee syllabary. 'Sequoyah was a statesman, diplomat, and seminal leader who contributed so much to help the Cherokee people. We look forward to protecting and preserving this monument to his legacy for generations to come,' former Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Richard G. Sneed said this about a previous version of the bill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Bloomberg
05-02-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Balance of Power 02/04/25
"Balance of Power" focuses on the intersection of politics and global business. On today's show, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R) Tennessee discusses how President Trump meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may effect the price of oil & gas, along with his thoughts on China's retaliatory tariffs. Rep. Richard Neal (D) Massachusetts, shares how the House of Representatives will navigate creating a Trump tax bill now that tariffs to Mexico & Canada have been paused for 30 days. Mara Rudman, Professor at the University of Virginia's Miller Center and former State Department official talks about the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. (Source: Bloomberg)