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The Hill
7 days ago
- Health
- The Hill
‘Make America Healthy Again' is winning young voters — Democrats should worry
Could RFK Jr. prove to be the Trump administration's secret weapon? Recent polling shows Americans trust Republicans over Democrats on nearly every major issue confronting our country: the economy, immigration, foreign policy and inflation. The two areas where Democrats hold the upper hand is health care and vaccines. RFK Jr. has a shot of undermining that advantage, especially with young voters. Although the Health and Human Services secretary has been relentlessly blasted by the liberal media for being 'anti-vaccine' (which Kennedy denies), a great many Americans like Kennedy's Make America Healthy Again agenda and agree that corporate interests are helping to make Americans sick and overly reliant on pharmaceuticals. A poll conducted by NBC News last month (in which Trump earned only a 45 percent job approval) showed that a majority of the country (51 percent) liked what RFK is doing, whereas only 48 percent disapproved. Interestingly, when asked who was to blame for America's chronic health problems, including obesity and heart disease, a plurality of respondents blamed the food industry. Much of RFK's agenda makes sense. A New York Times author last fall set out to debunk five of Kennedy's main claims about the nation's health, but ended up supporting three of them. For example, she concluded that 'many public health and nutrition experts agree' with his assertion that 'Ultraprocessed foods are driving the obesity epidemic, and they should be removed from school lunches.' On the subject of food dyes, which the HHS secretary says 'cause cancer, and ADHD in children,' she wrote, 'some small clinical trials have suggested that certain synthetic food dyes may increase hyperactivity in children.' 'Many experts agree,' she continued, 'it wouldn't hurt to avoid them.' How about his suggestion 'that consuming too many added sugars, especially from high fructose corn syrup, contributes to childhood obesity and cardiovascular disease?' Answer: 'Correct.' RFK Jr. is shaking up the food industry. In April, the Food and Drug Administration announced it would move to eliminate several petroleum-based dyes, which Kennedy claims can cause cancer and ADHD in kids, by the end of next year. Already, a large number of top brands, including General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, Hershey, J.M. Smucker, McCormick, Pepsico and Sam's Club, have taken steps to replace the artificial dyes used in candy, ice cream and other products with natural ingredients, despite the costs of doing so. The changes are likely to be popular, despite the less alluring colors of mint chip ice cream or Froot Loops. In Canada and Europe, foods colored with artificial dyes are required to carry a warning label. Consequently, manufacturers generally use natural products instead. Call me crazy, but the fact that so many food companies are making the switch, despite the expense and possibility of lost sales, suggests they know something they're not publicizing about these dyes and that Kennedy is on the right track. In May, Kennedy and his 'Make America Healthy Again' commission targeted ultra-processed foods in a 69-page report. Ultraprocessed foods, which make up 70-plus percent of Americans' diet, are made with manufactured rather than natural ingredients and formulated to encourage people to eat more, which adds to our obesity problems. A study last year of the dietary habits of nearly 10 million people published in the British Medical Journal revealed that exposure to ultra-processed food 'was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.' In particular, the study linked ultraprocessed foods to increased incidents of some 30 health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and mental health disorders. Is Kennedy right to take them on? Absolutely. The wonder is that no one has investigated the industry before this. It is actually not a puzzle. According to Open Secrets, agribusiness PACs donated nearly $31 million to politicians last year, while food sales and processing firms threw in another $3 million. Moreover, the food industry spilled $16 million on lobbying. That buys a lot of protection. Meanwhile, RFK Jr.'s concerns over widely prescribed vaccines has been harshly criticized by the medical establishment. The left has accused him of downplaying a measles outbreak in Texas, and talking up cures rather than advocating for increased vaccinations. But Kennedy has acknowledged that public trust in U.S. vaccine mandates and indeed in our health industries need to be rebuilt. He is right. That has led to a complete overhaul of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, citing 'persistent conflicts of interest' among members of the former board which, he wrote in a recent op-ed, 'has never recommended against a vaccine — even those later withdrawn for safety reasons.' Having new, independent researchers take a fresh look at Americans' vaccine regimen should be welcomed. Kennedy's willingness to gore sacred cows and ask tough questions make him popular with young people, and is likely contributing to Republican gains with young male and female Gen-Zers. A recent Fox News interviewer asked a young influencer why young voters are 'flocking to MAHA.' Lexi Vrachalus answered that she and others were alarmed by the rise chronic diseases in their peers — diseases that are preventable with diet and lifestyle choices. Asked about her focus on the gut, she explained, 'if we eat bad, we are going to feel bad mentally and physically, so I think it's crucial that we fuel our bodies with real, whole, single ingredient, unprocessed foods.' In May, The New York Times published a piece about 'The Rise of the 'Crunchy Teen' Wellness Influencer' writing, 'High schoolers are appealing to other health-conscious kids online, sometimes by expressing views in line with the 'Make America Healthy Again' movement.' The skeptical Times writer found plenty of reason to find the trend concerning, as teens may, for instance, over-emphasize one diet component or another. But Democrats should find the trend concerning as well, especially as Kennedy's MAHA program continues to win over young voters.
Reuters
24-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Lazard's profit tops estimates on record advisory revenue from dealmaking
July 24 (Reuters) - Investment bank Lazard (LAZ.N), opens new tab surpassed second-quarter profit estimates on Thursday, as a rebound in dealmaking helped power record revenue in its advisory business, sending its shares up 1.5%. Dealmaking activity bounced back sharply in May and June, after grinding to a halt in April as uncertainty over U.S. tariffs weighed on corporate confidence. Lazard's financial advisory revenue jumped 21% to $497 million in the quarter on robust activity in Europe. The business generated record revenue in France and Germany in the first half. "We are super busy," CEO Peter Orszag told journalists on a conference call. "We also see an increasingly constructive environment for dealmaking going forward." Orszag said on a post-earnings call Lazard saw a bit more of an uptick in European activity in the first half that may get balanced as the year progresses and U.S. activity expands. Lazard expects that private equity will play an increasingly active role in M&A, Orszag said, as pressure from investors to return cash continues to mount. The largest U.S. banks last week struck an optimistic tone about the outlook for the rest of the year after their profits beat expectations. Investment banking fees rose 13% at Citigroup (C.N), opens new tab, 7% at JPMorgan (JPM.N), opens new tab, 26% at Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab, and 9% at Wells Fargo (WFC.N), opens new tab. Lazard had advised Belgian healthcare REITs Aedifica ( opens new tab and Cofinimmo ( opens new tab on their $13.8 billion merger during the second quarter. In July, the company advised Italy's Ferrero on its $3.1 billion deal for Froot Loops maker WK Kellogg (KLG.N), opens new tab. Lazard has hired 14 managing directors in 2025 after setting an earlier target to add 10 to 15 per year, as part of its goal to double revenue by 2030. On an adjusted basis, it earned 52 cents per share in the quarter, beating expectations of 40 cents, according to estimates compiled by LSEG. Adjusted revenue jumped 12% to $770 million, topping estimates of $683.4 million. In asset management, Lazard registered net inflows of $677 million in the quarter, after grappling with outflows since the second quarter of 2023. "Asset management achieved positive net flows in the quarter and record gross inflows for the first half of the year, demonstrating progress towards our goal for this year to serve as an inflection point for the business," Orszag said. Analysts said the inflows could be an early signal of a turnaround for the business. The real highlight of this quarter was in asset management, said Wolfe Research analyst Steven Chubak. Orszag told journalists there are inorganic growth opportunities on the asset management side, but Lazard has not yet found the "right match". Asset management provides a durable source of revenue and helps diversify revenue from investment banking businesses that are driven by economic cycles. Revenue in the asset management business rose 2% to $292 million, while assets under management rose 2% to $248 billion, as of June 30.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Breakfast cereal sales declined for decades before Kellogg's sale to Italian company
Breakfast cereal could use a lucky charm. U.S. sales of the colorfully packaged morning staple have been in a decades-long decline, a trend back in the spotlight with news that Italian confectioner Ferrero Group plans to purchase WK Kellogg, maker of Corn Flakes, Froot Loops, Rice Krispies and other familiar brands. Except for a brief period during the coronavirus pandemic, when many workers were home and had time to sit down with a bowl of cereal and milk, sales of cold cereal have steadily fallen for at least 25 years, experts say. In the 52 weeks ending July 3, 2021, Americans bought nearly 2.5 billion boxes of cereal, according to market research company Nielsen IQ. In the same period this year, the number was down more than 13% to 2.1 billion. Cereal has been struggling for multiple reasons. The rise of more portable options like Nutri-Grain bars and Clif Bars – which both went on sale in the early 1990s – made it easier for consumers to grab breakfast on the go. Concerns about food processing and sugar intake have also dimmed some consumers' enthusiasm for cereals. One cup of Lucky Charms contains 24% of a consumer's daily recommended intake of sugar, for example. 'Cereal finds it really hard to get out from underneath that,' said Tom Rees, global insight manager for staple foods at the consulting company Euromonitor. 'It can't escape the fact that it doesn't look like a natural food. You have to create it and form it.' Rees noted that for decades, cereal manufacturers focused on adding vitamins and minerals to build cereal's health credentials. But consumers now are looking for simplified ingredient lists. Artificial dyes — like the petroleum-based colors that brighten Froot Loops — have also come under fire. Last fall, dozens of people rallied outside WK Kellogg's Battle Creek, Michigan, headquarters demanding that it remove artificial dyes from its cereals. Kellogg and General Mills — another major U.S. cereal maker — have since pledged to phase out artificial dyes. Add to that, consumers are expanding their idea of what breakfast can be. Yogurt and shakes have replaced the traditional bacon and eggs. Kenton Barello, a vice president at the market research firm YouGov, said his polling shows that Generation Z consumers, who were born between 1997 and 2007, eat more vegetables for breakfast than other generations. Barello said YouGov's polling also shows that members of Gen Z are less likely to eat breakfast but still buy ready-to-eat cereal, suggesting they're eating it as a snack or for other meals. 'With younger generations, there are differences in their relationship with food and these eating moments,' Barello said. 'They are going about breakfast in a different way than Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers.' Cereal's struggles are part of what led to the breakup of the Kellogg Company. In 2023, the century-old company that put Battle Creek, Michigan, on the map split into two companies. Kellanova took popular snack brands like Cheez-Its, Pringles and Pop-Tarts as well as international cereals, and WK Kellogg made cereals for the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean. In 2024, M&M's maker Mars Inc. announced a plan to buy Kellanova for more than $30 billion. That plan has cleared U.S. regulators but is still awaiting regulatory approval in Europe. WK Kellogg was left to try to rejuvenate the cereal business. The sale of WK Kellogg to Ferrero doesn't mean supermarket cereal aisles are at risk of extinction. Packaged food companies have options for turning around their soggy cereal sales, Rees said. He thinks Kellogg's Mashups line, which mixed brands like Frosted Flakes and Froot Loops into one box, appeal to younger consumers, who tend to like interesting flavor combinations. The market may also have a fragmented future, according to Rees. Companies may have to accept that younger buyers want a sweet-and-spicy cereal while older buyers might want a Keto-friendly option. 'The future might be realizing that the era of 'This brand will serve everybody' isn't going to happen,' Rees said. Julia Mills, a food analyst with the consulting company Mintel, thinks the shrinking population of children in the U.S. gives cereal makers the opportunity to shift to more sophisticated flavors and packaging. Cereal could be positioned as a fancy topping for yogurt, for example, or a fiber-rich food that can improve gut health. Some niche cereal brands , like high-fiber Poop Like a Champion cereal and high-protein, zero-sugar Magic Spoon, are already doing that. But legacy brands say they shouldn't be counted out. Jeffrey Harmening, the chairman and chief executive officer of Cheerios maker General Mills, said his company considered trying to acquire Magic Spoon. Instead, it made high-protein versions of Cheerios, which now outsells Magic Spoon. 'The key to longer term is, honestly, is giving consumers more of what they want,' Harmening said during a conference call with investors in March.
Bloomberg
18-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Froot Loops, Apple Jacks to Cut Synthetic Dyes by End of 2027
WK Kellogg Co. will remove synthetic dyes from its cereals, including Froot Loops and Apple Jacks, by the end of 2027, joining a growing cohort of other US companies that have committed to eliminate colorants such as Red 40 and Yellow 5 from their foods. The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company said it would remove the additives on its website on Friday. It had previously announced that it wouldn't introduce new products with the dyes beginning in 2026 while also committing to eliminate the ingredients from its cereals served in schools by the 2026-2027 school year.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
US ice cream makers to remove synthetic dyes under RFK Jr initiative
WASHINGTON: Major US ice cream manufacturers have announced plans to eliminate synthetic dyes from their products by 2027, responding to pressure from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The move comes as part of broader efforts to reduce unnecessary additives in food. The International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), representing over 40 leading ice cream brands, confirmed the decision to phase out petroleum-based artificial colorings. Studies have linked these dyes to health issues such as ADHD, cancer, and digestive problems, despite providing no nutritional benefits. Kennedy praised the industry's commitment at a press event, calling it a positive step for public health. 'This is a great day for dairy and it's a great day for Make America Healthy Again,' said IDFA President Michael Dykes, referencing Kennedy's MAHA slogan. Turkey Hill CEO Andy Jacobs noted that many manufacturers had already begun removing artificial dyes. 'By taking this step now, ice cream manufacturers are ensuring that ice cream remains a special part of our lives as consumer preferences change,' he said. The US ice cream industry, worth $12 billion annually, sees Americans consuming around 19 pounds per person each year. While some companies like Nestle and PepsiCo have already committed to removing synthetic dyes, others, including Mars and Kellogg's, continue to use them in products like M&M's and Froot Loops. Meanwhile, the FDA under President Biden recently banned Red Dye No. 3, while the Trump administration has fast-tracked approvals for natural alternatives like gardenia blue. Kennedy's voluntary approach has drawn criticism for being too lenient, but industry participation suggests progress. - AFP
