By Sarah ToddJuly 24, 2026
Reporter, Commercial Determinants of Health
Amid debates over whether the political influence of the Make America Healthy Again movement is on the wane, a new bill advanced in the Senate on Wednesday shows that concerns over ultra-processed food continue to upend the usual partisan stances in Washington.
The bill, which would ban junk food advertisements targeted to children and require the Food and Drug Administration to put strong warning labels on ultra-processed foods high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat, was proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
An earlier version of the bill died when Sanders introduced it back in 2024 — but that was before President Trump appointed MAHA leader Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary and Republicans began supporting food industry regulation, typically the domain of Democrats. This time, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions voted to move the bill ahead to the full Senate by a 12-10 vote.
