If Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. thought he had any chance of becoming best friends with Ben Affleck, he can kiss that dream goodbye.
Last week, Kennedy attended an Austin food rally promoting his “Make American Healthy Again” campaign, where he announced his office would be focusing on getting “proof of safety data” from some of the biggest names in the fast food industry. This includes coffee giant Starbucks, and to many internet users’ horror, New England staple Dunkin’.
“We’re going to ask Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, ‘Show us the safety data that show that it’s OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it,’” Kennedy said onstage, implying products could be taken out of the food market entirely if this data isn’t shared. “I don’t think they’re going to be able to do it.”
On Wednesday, March 4, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey responded on X with a cheeky take on the 1835 Texas Revolution flag, complete with a star, a Dunkin’ iced beverage, and the words “come and take it.” That sentiment and others backlash to Kennedy’s comments have continued to grow in the past week, as many New Englanders remain famously protective over the donut and coffee chain. It makes sense — Dunkin’ (formerly Dunkin’ Donuts) has operated as a major franchise since 1950 and continues to remain a cult favorite in Massachusetts and beyond. Kennedy responded Thursday afternoon, writing, “No one is taking away your Dunkin’. But isn’t it reasonable to ask whether a drink loaded with 180 grams of sugar is safe?” Sure seems like that number keeps growing, Bobby (though, to be fair, even 115 grams of sugar — roughly half a cup — isn’t great for you).
Representatives for Dunkin’ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Rolling Stone, but Kennedy’s comments come amid his office’s continued and often muddled messaging on public reforms for the food industry. The focus on Dunkin’ and Starbucks’ sugary drinks is actually a side effect of Kennedy’s goal to end what experts call the GRAS loophole. (GRAS stands for “generally recognized as safe,” and it’s a designation that allows food companies to give customers products with new food compounds without triggering Food and Drug Administration reviews.) This includes types of sugar and sugar additives, which are available in specific sizes and versions of Dunkin’s drinks, like the Daydream Refreshers, frozen coffees, and flavored speciality drinks.
Kennedy has publicly blamed this loophole several times for an American reliance on “ultraprocessed foods,” which his MAHA campaign has named as public enemy number one. But the secretary has failed to share any meaningful plans on how to actually address his concerns without triggering legal ramifications, all while he continues to push bogus health data and vaccine skepticism at the highest levels of government.
Seeing as Kennedy spends most of his time exercising in jeans and filming surrealistic public health campaigns with Kid Rock, it’s unlikely that his public comments will lead to any changes in the Dunkin’ menus anytime soon. But even if he does suddenly become even remotely effective, Massachusetts residents on social media maintain they will not take any attacks on their precious coffee chain lying down.
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