Two advisers to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sat on a stage in California this spring, addressing an audience at a natural products industry trade show that drew tens of thousands of people from food brands, investment banks, supplement sellers, and other companies. Their message: The goals of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement will help your bottom lines.
“It's shocking to see the supplement industry and holistic health practitioners rally around the Republican agenda,” said Del Bigtree, a noted figure linked to the movement. Bigtree is known for leading MAHA Action, a group pushing various anti-science bills across the U.S.
Advocates of the MAHA movement argue that they are empowering consumers and promoting grassroots health initiatives, despite being intertwined with well-funded national organizations. These groups are accused of profiting from a growing distrust in traditional medicine.
One major target of their campaign is the push for policies that weaken consumer protections—bills that can increase profits for industries such as raw milk production. Activists often tout financial benefits for businesses in arguments to pass these laws.
However, the movement is also surrounded by controversy. Notable leaders in this space have earned substantial income through their campaigns while promoting products that have raised health warnings, including raw milk, which can lead to dangerous bacterial infections.
In Delaware, legislation legalizing raw milk sales cited potential profit increases for dairy producers, with proponents claiming significant economic opportunities. Yet, the history of contamination linked to raw milk raises serious public health concerns—challenges often overlooked during discussions.
As the MAHA movement gains momentum, notable figures discussing its benefits for business include Casey Means, a surgeon general nominee with ties to various health enterprises, and Tony Lyons, a longtime publisher for several prominent anti-vaccine authors.
With these leaders capitalizing on the movement, critics question whether genuine public health advocacy is taking a backseat to profit-driven motives. The outcome of these policies will have a lasting impact on public health, especially as activists push for broader acceptance of previously stigmatized goods such as raw milk.
As these narratives unfold, both advocacy and profit intertwine, creating a complex landscape that may not prioritize the health of the public, while leaders in this space reap substantial financial rewards.
“It's shocking to see the supplement industry and holistic health practitioners rally around the Republican agenda,” said Del Bigtree, a noted figure linked to the movement. Bigtree is known for leading MAHA Action, a group pushing various anti-science bills across the U.S.
Advocates of the MAHA movement argue that they are empowering consumers and promoting grassroots health initiatives, despite being intertwined with well-funded national organizations. These groups are accused of profiting from a growing distrust in traditional medicine.
One major target of their campaign is the push for policies that weaken consumer protections—bills that can increase profits for industries such as raw milk production. Activists often tout financial benefits for businesses in arguments to pass these laws.
However, the movement is also surrounded by controversy. Notable leaders in this space have earned substantial income through their campaigns while promoting products that have raised health warnings, including raw milk, which can lead to dangerous bacterial infections.
In Delaware, legislation legalizing raw milk sales cited potential profit increases for dairy producers, with proponents claiming significant economic opportunities. Yet, the history of contamination linked to raw milk raises serious public health concerns—challenges often overlooked during discussions.
As the MAHA movement gains momentum, notable figures discussing its benefits for business include Casey Means, a surgeon general nominee with ties to various health enterprises, and Tony Lyons, a longtime publisher for several prominent anti-vaccine authors.
With these leaders capitalizing on the movement, critics question whether genuine public health advocacy is taking a backseat to profit-driven motives. The outcome of these policies will have a lasting impact on public health, especially as activists push for broader acceptance of previously stigmatized goods such as raw milk.
As these narratives unfold, both advocacy and profit intertwine, creating a complex landscape that may not prioritize the health of the public, while leaders in this space reap substantial financial rewards.
