Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday said he would support a potential ban on junk food TV advertisements in the U.S. – an effort that would likely draw fierce backlash from major food manufacturers.
Speaking at a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, ranking member Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said President Donald Trump’s nominee for surgeon general, Casey Means, had recently told the panel she supports banning junk food ads on TV.
When asked whether he agrees with a ban, Kennedy said, “I would support that.”
But Kennedy also appeared to imply that he would want the effort to be voluntary for food companies.
“The only hesitation I have was ... we tried to do a smoking ban on TV, and the tobacco companies voluntarily came to the table, which was a good thing,” he said. “And I think the same arguments apply for junk food, [which is] probably even worse for Americans than smoking.”
