Why MAHA isn't breaking through on Capitol Hill

"“They have a stranglehold,” Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) said in a recent interview of the food industry's influence over Congress. “I don't want to be dramatic, but that was the case with the tobacco industry.”"

"Before the House defeated a farm bill amendment last month that would have blocked SNAP food assistance from being used to buy soda, the Appropriations Committee voted against the release of a federal report on junk food marketing to kids. Meanwhile, neither chamber has taken action on any of the dozens of bills lawmakers have crafted to ban synthetic food colors, overhaul product labeling or encourage schools to serve healthier meals."

"“The truth is, the amount of money and political heft that the food industry exerts on our political leaders right now is far more than tobacco - and maybe more than tobacco ever has,” Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor focused on global health, said in an interview. “And while the MAHA movement talks a big game, it doesn't do much.”"

"Only the Confectioners Association responded to requests for comment, arguing in a statement that SNAP restrictions aren't needed for candy and chocolate because they make up about 2 percent of SNAP purchases - “significantly le"

Food and beverage industry lobbying spending reached a record $113 million since Trump returned to office, rising more than 30% from 2024 to 2025. Lawmakers rejected a House farm bill amendment that would have blocked SNAP assistance from being used to buy soda, and the Appropriations Committee voted against releasing a federal report on junk food marketing to kids. Neither chamber acted on multiple bills to ban synthetic food colors, overhaul product labeling, or encourage healthier school meals. Critics said industry influence over Congress is comparable to tobacco’s political power. Companies and trade groups reported substantial lobbying expenditures, including Mars, Hershey, the National Confectioners Association, the American Beverage Association, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo. The Confectioners Association argued SNAP restrictions are unnecessary for candy and chocolate because they represent about 2% of SNAP purchases.

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