Food regulation update April 20: The latest on MAHA and related developments

CHICAGO, April 20, 2026 — IFMA The Food Away from Home Association launched a new benefit for members: A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. The report is compiled and written by Dr. Joy Dubost, a renowned food scientist and registered dietitian with strong knowledge of what’s happening on the regulatory front.

 

MAHA

 

Meeting at the White House

 

Secretary Kennedy, members of his MAHA staff and several MAHA influencers met with White House staff and President Trump late last week, receiving significant attention as tensions grow within the MAHA-MAGA alliance. The meeting lasted almost two hours with senior officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Is this a sign of the strained relationship given the pressing issues happening currently on a global stage? Other attendees included Senior MAHA Advisor Calley Means, surgeon general nominee Casey Means, Kyle Diamantas of the FDA, and Heidi Overton from the White House Domestic Policy Council. The White House and Mr. Kennedy’s office did not disclose details about the meeting. This meeting highlights the delicate relationship between President Trump and the MAHA Moms, many former Democrats and independents who sided with him in 2024 following Mr. Kennedy’s endorsement. However, lately there have been points of major tension starting with the President’s executive order to increase glyphosate production and provide limited-liability protections to a major company, which faces lawsuits. What, if any, nutrition or ingredient safety subjects were discussed remains unclear. It is evident that backing from MAHA supporters is essential, especially with mid-term elections on the horizon and growing attention on Democrats aiming to reclaim the House and Senate. This unique gathering highlights just how vital their involvement is.

 

First Podcast

 

In the first episode of the Secretary Kennedy Podcast, lasting roughly 45 minutes, HHS Secretary Kennedy discusses the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul America’s food system as a critical step in ending the nation’s chronic disease epidemic and reducing healthcare costs. Kennedy argues that the U.S. diet - now dominated by ultra-processed foods - has driven soaring rates of chronic illness, weakened national readiness, and ballooned federal spending on diet-related disease.

 

Kennedy is joined by chef and self-proclaimed food-system reformer Robert Irvine, who describes how healthier food can be delivered at scale without increasing costs. Drawing on his experience in the military, higher education, and restaurant turnarounds, Irvine explains that the core problems are poor purchasing practices, excessive waste, lack of cooking education, and reliance on highly processed foods not insufficient funding.

 

Irvine highlights pilot programs at several U.S. military bases where fresh, minimally processed meals are cooked daily, food waste has dropped dramatically, and participation in dining facilities has surged. These programs, he says, improve physical performance, mental health, morale, and long-term health outcomes while costing less than traditional contractor-run food services. He noted there is no reason that school foodservice cannot be overhauled to produce the same outcomes as what was accomplished on these military bases.

 

Both speakers emphasize that food quality affects not only physical health, but also mental health, behavior, learning, and community. They argue that reforming institutional food systems - military bases, schools, hospitals, and prisons - can reshape American food culture at scale. Their central message is consistent: healthy food is not inherently expensive, but bad systems, bad procurement, and lack of education make it seem that way.

 

Marathon of Hearings

 

Lawmakers are preparing to weigh in on Secretary Kennedy's performance during his first year leading the Health Department, as well as his future plans. Starting the end of this week, seven hearings will be held in less than a week. Democrats plan to scrutinize Kennedy's efforts to reduce the size of his agencies and revise the vaccine schedule. Meanwhile, Republicans, who have previously challenged Kennedy on his vaccine policies, such as Senate Health Chair Bill Cassidy from Louisiana, must consider whether to ease their criticism now that election season is underway.

 

These hearings mark Kennedy's first appearances on Capitol Hill in seven months and serve as the initial major public event of 2026, providing an opportunity to gauge the White House's expectation that Kennedy will bolster Republican prospects in the midterms. Officially, the hearings focus on the Trump administration's proposed 2027 HHS budget, which entails more than a 12 percent reduction in federal health agency funding and calls for eliminating "bloated, woke and inefficient programs" that Kennedy believes do not contribute to his MAHA mission. However, lawmakers from both parties are expected to probe Kennedy about his turbulent year heading the department and use this forum to build their case for or against President Trump's party.

 

In the first hearing held before the House Appropriations subcommittee Secretary Kennedy highlighted achievements including revising national dietary guidelines to prioritize "real, whole, nutrient-dense foods," collaborating with the food industry to phase out artificial dyes, and initiating a review of food additives deemed GRAS in government terms. Also, during the hearing, Secretary Rollins attributed farmers' economic struggles to widespread anti-competitive practices, describing them as part of an "overarching economic pending disaster." The ongoing Iran war has driven up fertilizer and fuel prices, but Rollins specifically blamed fertilizer companies for price increases, pointing out that a handful of firms have "basically taken over the market" for agricultural supplies, restricting competition. Hearings will continue next week.

 

USDA

 

School Grants

 

USDA announced the initial recipients of fiscal year (FY) 2026 Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants, marking the largest financial allocation in the history of this grant program. For FY 2026, USDA will provide nearly $20 million in funding to support initiatives aimed at increasing the availability of nutritious, locally sourced food for schoolchildren across the United States, while also enhancing economic prospects for farmers and food producers.

 

Additionally, USDA has begun accepting applications for $20 million in National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants. These grants are designed to help schools upgrade kitchen infrastructure, thereby enabling them to prepare and serve healthier meals made with real ingredients as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030.

 

USDA noted the Farm to School Grant Program strengthens links between farmers and children by integrating local foods into school meals, summer meal programs, and childcare settings. USDA implemented several enhancements to the grant process for FY 2026, resulting in an unprecedented number of applicants. These modifications aim to simplify the application procedure, reduce impediments, foster larger partnerships, and empower farm to school programs in pursuing ambitious objectives.

 

For instance, the first-time grantee Foundation for Food and Farm Connections will collaborate with ten school districts, a major food service provider, the Missouri Farm Bureau, and the Missouri Association of Meat Producers on the "Powered by Protein" project. This initiative seeks to broaden schools' access to locally sourced beef, pork, and poultry by fortifying every link in the farm-to-school supply chain, including producers, processors, school nutrition staff, and classroom engagement.

 

The USDA announced the first group of FY 2026 grantees, awarding grants to 52 projects, with additional grants to be distributed subsequently. Detailed project information is available on the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program website.

 

Equipment Assistance Grants: Advancing Healthier Meal Preparation

 

School meal operations are the largest foodservice activity conducted nationwide each week. The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants enable schools to acquire modern, efficient equipment—such as combination ovens, refrigerators, and steamers—that support scratch cooking, enhance food safety, incorporate local products, and more.

 

Through these grants, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) continues to partner with states and local school meal operators, equipping them to drive innovation in child health. Nutritious school meals produce lasting benefits, contributing to improved health outcomes for America's youth.

 

All state agencies participating in the NSLP are eligible to apply for an Equipment Assistance Grant. FNS will accept applications until May 28, 2026. Local program operators should reach out to their respective state agency for information regarding subgrant applications.

 

Leadership Appointments 

 

Several new appointments supported by HHS chief counselor Chris Klomp have officially been approved by President Trump for CDC leadership. Dr. Erica Schwartz, who previously served during the first Trump administration as the U.S. Surgeon General has been nominated to become the Director of the CDC. This appointment will need to be approved by Congress. In addition, Sean Slovenski, a former Walmart health executive has been appointed as the CDC Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Jennifer Shudford who serves as Texas’s health commissioner, will be the new CDC Deputy Director and Chief Medical Officer, and Dr. Sara Brenner as Senior Counselor for Public Health to Secretary Kennedy. The hope is to stabilize CDC after several leadership changes over the past year.

 

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