Physicians Committee urges MAHA to address risks of animal products in upcoming health report

As the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission prepares to publish its follow-up to the Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment by 12 August, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is urging the federal government to take a stronger stance on the health risks of meat and dairy products. The Washington, D.C.-based health advocacy group, representing 17,000 physician members, is also calling for more nuanced messaging about processed foods.

The MAHA Commission’s first report, released in May, identified four potential drivers of rising childhood chronic disease rates, including “poor diet.” The Physicians Committee agrees with that assessment but says the emphasis should be on moving away from animal products and toward plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

“Bacon and eggs, cheeseburgers, pepperoni pizza, and other animal products loaded with saturated fat and cholesterol are driving America’s epidemics of obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes,” commented Neal Barnard, MD, president of the Physicians Committee.

The first MAHA report also recommended limiting processed foods. While the Physicians Committee supports caution, it stresses that not all processed foods carry the same health risks. Dr Barnard points to plant-based processed foods as examples that can have positive health impacts, noting they are often linked to lower risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease and may be fortified with nutrients such as vitamin D and vitamin B12.

“‘Ultra-processed’ is an invented term with little meaning and even less practical value,” said Dr Barnard, who recently co-authored a study on processed food published in JAMA Open Network. “Science shows that so-called ‘ultra-processed’ foods differ greatly: certain ones are associated with health problems while others are associated with reduced risk.”

In his new research, 39% of respondents to an online poll incorrectly believed that all processed foods are unhealthy. When asked which foods increase type 2 diabetes risk, 51% named sugar, 19% pointed to desserts, and 7% cited carbohydrates in general – all inaccurate responses.

The American Medical Association recently adopted a policy supporting public awareness campaigns to distinguish between healthful and unhealthful ultra-processed foods. Research from Harvard University underscores the importance of this distinction, showing that animal-based products were linked to a 44% increased risk of diabetes, while ultra-processed cereals were associated with a 22% reduction in risk.

Two recent analyses of Physicians Committee clinical research also highlight the potential benefits of replacing animal products with plant-based foods – regardless of processing level. In postmenopausal women, the substitution was associated with weight loss and a reduction in hot flashes. In people with type 1 diabetes, it led to weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity.

“All animal products are processed,” Dr Barnard said. “Farmers feed corn or other feed grains to animals, using the animals’ bodies essentially as machines to convert grains into meat, dairy, and eggs. So chicken breast or pork chops are among the most heavily processed foods there are.”

The MAHA report will be released as the Department of Health and Human Services, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the U.S. Department of Agriculture prepare the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. In December, the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend against processed foods in the official guidelines.

The Physicians Committee intends to continue pressing for a clear public health message – one that addresses the documented risks of meat and dairy while acknowledging that some processed foods can contribute to better health outcomes.

These issues will be discussed further at the group’s International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, taking place in Washington, D.C., from 14-16 August. Several sessions will focus on processed foods, with presentations covering their varied health effects and the role of diet in preventing chronic disease.