Calley Means, senior adviser to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., resigned from the Trump administration over frustration that the Make America Healthy Again agenda had stalled inside the White House, Politico reported Oct. 22.
Two administration officials told Politico the breaking point came this week, when a scheduled meeting among Mr. Means, Mr. Kennedy and White House officials on defining ultraprocessed foods was postponed. MAHA advocates see that definition as the groundwork for eventual regulation of sweeteners and additives.
The second official also cited Mr. Means’ frustration with repeated delays to a school lunch rule limiting unhealthy ingredients. The official attributed the holdup to industry concerns.
In a statement, Mr. Means praised President Donald Trump and Mr. Kennedy and said he was proud of his work in the administration.
“This movement is in the first inning and just getting started,” Mr. Means said.
Mr. Means worked on Mr. Kennedy’s 2024 presidential campaign. He served as a White House adviser before becoming a senior HHS adviser.
He worked on several of the administration’s food policy actions. These included revamped dietary guidelines, voluntary artificial dye removal by major food companies and restrictions on unhealthy drinks under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in 17 states. He also worked on an April executive order expanding federal research into psychedelic medicine.
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