Monday, 25 May 2026
U.S. urges restaurants to encourage healthier choices for children
New York - The U.S. federal government is encouraging restaurants to voluntarily promote healthier menu options for children and reduce advertising of less nutritious foods, according to the latest report from the "Make America Healthy Again" Commission, released Tuesday.
The commission, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. under President Donald Trump, addresses growing concerns about childhood health issues and suggests partnering with the restaurant industry, rather than imposing strict regulations, Reuters reported.
However, some public health experts, like longtime nutrition scholar Marion Nestle, have raised doubts about this self-regulatory approach, warning that the industry profits too much from marketing unhealthy food to kids. “They’re not going to stop unless they’re forced to,” Nestle commented, expressing disappointment in the recommendations.
On the other hand, Michelle Korsmo, President of the National Restaurant Association, welcomed the commission’s report, highlighting the restaurant sector’s ongoing efforts to provide both appealing and healthier choices. She also pledged support in assisting restaurants through this transition.
Current regulations limit the Federal Trade Commission’s power to oversee marketing to children, due to a law enacted in 1980. Meanwhile, data from the University of Connecticut’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health shows that food, beverage, and restaurant companies spend nearly $14 billion annually on advertising in the U.S., with fast food being the most aggressively promoted to young audiences.
Many restaurant and food companies already follow voluntary guidelines on marketing to children and have actively engaged with lawmakers and the White House on issues like those examined by the MAHA Commission.