RFK Jr. in Phoenix as Arizona aims to overhaul school lunches, ban soda with EBT
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke in Phoenix on Tuesday as Arizona lawmakers pass two major bills aimed at improving the health of Arizonans.
House Bill 2164 bans ultra-processed foods with harmful additives from being served in public school meals and has received widespread support from members of the Republican-led state House. House Bill 2165 bans food stamp recipients from buying sugary sodas or any “carbonated beverage” that contains more than one gram of added sugar or any artificial sweetener.
“We are prioritizing the health of our citizens, our children – over corporate interests,” said Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp.
Both bills are now awaiting signatures from Gov. Katie Hobbs to be signed into law.
“I’m very proud of these legislators and senators for standing up for the health of the people of Arizona,” said Secretary Kennedy. “We finally have an opportunity to address this, and it’s happening at the grass roots because people are saying we are not going to take it anymore.”
Still, there is pushback from some groups, including Save Our Schools Arizona.
During his visit, Secretary Kennedy addressed critics by saying unhealthy foods are causing chronic diseases.
“If we don’t address this core reason and everything else we do is just wormwood and bile. It’s just meaningless. We have to address this,” said Kennedy.
When it comes to why HB2165 only includes sodas and not other sugary foods and drinks, bill sponsor Republican Rep. Leo Biasiucci said, “A lot of times you have to sacrifice your language. You have to make edits and make amendments to get it across the finish line.”
Kennedy also said, “Believe me, I would like to solve the entire processed food program, but we’re not going to do that overnight. We’re going to do that in the next four years.”
During the visit, Kennedy was asked about his strategy for stopping the growing measles outbreak in Texas.
He responded, “Our strategy has been very successful....the growth rate has diminished substantially.” He added that what they’re doing in the United States is a model for the rest of the world.
When another reporter tried to ask a follow-up question about the MMR vaccine, Sen. Shamp cut him off and said they were there to talk about the bills.
Similar laws have been passed in Utah, which also became the first state to prohibit the addition of fluoride in public drinking water. RFK Jr. said on Monday that he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is reviewing “new scientific information” on the potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. The EPA sets the maximum level allowed in public water systems.
Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the CDC. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and in 1962 they set guidelines for how much should be added to water.
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin” and said it has been associated with arthritis, bone breaks and thyroid disease.
Some studies have suggested such links might exist, usually at higher-than-recommended fluoride levels. However, some reviewers have questioned the quality of available evidence and said no definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Additional scheduled speakers include House Rep. Myron Tsosie, Maricopa County School Supt. Shelli Boggs, and Arizona functional medicine specialist Dr. Julie Hinman.
RKF Jr. wasn’t the only member of Trump’s cabinet to visit Arizona this week.
White House border policy advisor Tom Homan arrived in Phoenix to address a special joint session of the Arizona Legislature on the Trump administration’s efforts to secure the southern border. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made an apperance at the Border Security Expo in downtown Phoenix on Tuesday.
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