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MAHA REPORT 26  JUL / AUG 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS   formula/. 135 Lau, K., McLean, W. G., Williams, D. P., & Howard, C. V. (2006). Synergistic interactions between commonly used food additives in a developmental neurotoxicity test. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 44(6), 1719–1725. 136 Jouanne, K. M., Tinker, S. C., Vannucci, A., Chiu, C.-Y., & Bailey, R. L. Nansel, T. R., Cummings, J. R., Burger, K., Siega-Riz, A. M., & Lipsky, L. M. ( (2022). Greater ultra- processed food intake during pregnancy and postpartum is associated with multiple aspects of lower diet quality. Nutrients, 14(20), 4290 14(19), 3933 . 137 Morales-Suarez-Varela M, Rocha-Velasco OA. Impact of ultra-processed food consumption during pregnancy on maternal and child health outcomes: A comprehensive narrative review of the past five years. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2025 Feb;65:288-304. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.12.006. Epub 2024 Dec 9. 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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=110658. 142 Kim, S. A., Moore, L. V., Galuska, D., Wright, A. P., Harris, D., Grummer-Strawn, L. M., Merlo, C. L., Nihiser, A. J., & Rhodes, D. G. (2014, August 8). Vital Signs: Fruit and vegetable intake among children—United States, 2003–2010. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 63(31), 671– 676. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/ mmwrhtml/mm6331a3.htm. 143 Hoy, M. K., Clemens, J. C., & Moshfegh, A. J. (2021, June). Intake of fruit by children and adolescents: What We Eat in America, NHANES 2017– 2018 (FSRG Dietary Data Brief No. 38) [Data brief]. United States Department of Agriculture. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK588714/. 144 Panzeri, C., Pecoraro, L., Dianin, A., Sboarina, A., Arnone, O. C., Piacentini, G., & Pietrobelli, A. (2024). Potential Micronutrient Deficiencies in the First 1000 Days of Life: The Pediatrician on the Side of the Weakest. Current obesity reports, 13(2), 338–351. 145 Rivera, J. A., Hotz, C., González-Cossío, T., Neufeld, L., & García-Guerra, A. (2003). The effect of micronutrient deficiencies on child growth: A review of results from community-based supplementation trials. The Journal of Nutrition, 133(11), 4010S–4020S. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/133.11.4010S. 146 Soliman, A., De Sanctis, V., & Elalaily, R. (2014). Nutrition and pubertal development. Indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism, 18(Suppl 1), S39–S47. https://doi. org/10.4103/2230-8210.145073. 147 Sofi, F., Cesari, F., Abbate, R., Gensini, G. F. & Casini, A. (2008) Adherence to Mediterranean diet and health status: meta-analysis. BMJ 337, a1344. 148 O’neil, A., Quirk, S. E., Housden, S., Brennan, S. L., Williams, L. J., Pasco, J. A., ... & Jacka, F. N. (2014). Relationship between diet and mental health in children and • A small number of corporations control a large share of food production, processing, distribution, and retail. Many of the core prod- ucts of “Big Food”companies are UPFs and nutrient-poor foods and beverages. This trend of consolidation began in earnest in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the two largest U.S. tobacco companies transformed into major players in the packaged food industry through aggressive acquisitions. 168 169 Four companies control 80% of the meat market in the U.S. 170 • The regulation of the food industry also presents challenges to smaller farmers and smaller food producers. Key regulations, such as the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) enacted in 2011, implemented rigorous compliance requirements for food safety that smaller farms often lack the resources to meet. This has inadvertently led to increased costs and burdensome paperwork that dis- proportionately impact family-run operations. 171 Similarly, the implementation of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system has further complicated operations for smaller producers without the expertise or capital to navigate such com- prehensive safety protocols. 172 Distorted Nutrition Research and Marketing The public depends on scientific research and the media for information about the food we consume. The food industry has increasingly influenced these critical sources of public information, diminishing the integrity of information available to consumers: • A BMJ analysis found that while industry spent over $60 billion on drug, biotechnology, and medical device research in nutrition science, 173 the government spent $1.5 billion on nutrition research. 174 While it’s not a direct comparison, the contrast still illustrates a striking disparity. • Government funding by the NIH for nutrition research is only 4-5% of its total budget 175 and in some cases can be subjected to influ- ence by food industry-aligned researchers. 176 • Industry funding skews the outcomes of nutrition research. In 2018, 13% of articles in the top 10most cited nutrition journals reported industry involvement, and 56% of these studies yielded favorable results, compared to just 10% of non-industry studies. 177 A meta- analysis further revealed that 0% of interventional nutrition studies funded by the industry reported unfavorable health conclusions regarding soft drinks, juices, and milk, while 37% of studies backed by non- industry funding did; the likelihood of reaching a favor- able conclusion in studies that received industry funding was 7.61 times higher compared to studies that did not receive any industry funding. 178 • According to one study, children are exposed to 15 food ads per day, with over 90% promoting products high in fat, sugar, and sodium. 179 This constant exposure has been linked to increased cravings for and consumption of sugary beverages and other unhealthy prod- ucts. 180 181 182 Compromised Dietary Guidelines The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) have been the foundation of national nutrition policy. They attempt to shape what millions of Americans eat by influencing programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the National School Lunch Program, and by setting food standards for the military, prisons, and veterans’ care. The DGA also influences public health campaigns, nutrition labels, and food industry practices, making them one of the most powerful forces in the U.S. food system. 183 184 While the DGA’s do emphasize the importance of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats as well as recommend limiting added sugars, saturated fats, and excess sodium, 185 they are often presented in technical language