Robert F Kennedy Jr’s promised health reforms aimed at improving American public health are finally coming into effect, with Texas being the first to introduce its ‘Make America Healthy Again’ reforms.
The US health secretary has repeatedly promised that his posited reforms will help to reduce childhood obesity rates, cut the number of people who develop chronic illnesses, and more, citing data that suggests American public health is declining.
Diet and exercise are top of the agenda in various guises, with ultra-processed foods (UPFs), typical American diets and physical inactivity all under close scrutiny.
Texas is the first to launch a ‘Make America Healthy Again’ package, with Governor Greg Abbott signing three bills into law.
RFK Jr posted on social media saying ‘Texas is leading the way’, and thanks Abbott along with the bills’ sponsors as he called upon other governors to ‘join us in our pursuit to Make America Healthy Again’.
The incoming legislation was led by Texas state Senator Lois Kolkhorst, with the three bills being SB 25, SB 314 and SB 379.
Kolkhorst introduced the package in February 2025 whilst citing Trump’s executive order that established a ‘Make America Healthy Again’, saying ‘Texas is joining this effort with legislation’.
SB 25 will increase physical education requirements at public schools, along with updating the Texas Health and Safety Code to mandate warning labels on food containing any one of 44 listed artificial additives, chemicals and colourings.
SB 25 creates additional regulations, expands the size of government bureaucracy and expands physical education requirements for public schools, The Center Square reported.
It will read: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.”
SB 25 will also require medical schools to teach a nutrition syllabus, along with requiring doctors to take nutrition continuing education classes and adding a half-credit for high schoolers and state colleges who take them.
It also mandates the formation of a Texas Nutrition Advisory Committee focused on studying links between UPFs and chronic diseases with the goal of advising further incoming legislation on appropriate measures.
“This legislation came about after listening to constituents who care about their overall health and they sense that something is wrong,” said Kolkhorst.
“Our nation spends more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, and yet our life expectancy ranks last among the G7 nations. We should ask why. It is time something is done, and SB 25 is a good start.”
SB 25 will come into law on September 1st 2025.
SB 314 meanwhile imposes bans on ‘seven of the most dangerous chemicals in foods’ across public school meals, along with prohibiting foods containing ‘an ingredient that is linked to severe human harm’. Those include: ‘multiple synthetic food dyes and other harmful substances that are in the school lunches today’.
This one came intro effect on May 27th.
Finally, SB 379 will block SNAP benefits – food benefits available to low-income families that supplement their grocery budget – from being applicable to junk foods including chips, candy, cookies, and sugary drinks.
As with SB 25, this bill will come into law on September 1st 2025.
Featured Image Credit: Bloomberg / Contributor/Getty Images
Rachael Davis