Packaged Foods: Friend or Foe?

This: A big boss of a major food company stands up and says, "Packaged foods are super important for people all over the world. " This is what happened when the CEO of Nestle, Laurent Freixe, spoke up just before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed as the new head of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is known for not liking processed foods, so this was an interesting moment. Freixe made his case for packaged foods right after Nestle shared its latest earnings. The company, famous for brands like Kit Kats and Nescafé, saw its organic sales grow by 2. 2% in 2024. This might not sound like much, but it's a big deal in the world of big business. Freixe didn't shy away from talking about the U. S. market. He said, "The U. S. is really important to us, and we're keeping an eye on things. " When asked if Nestle had reached out to Kennedy, Freixe mentioned that they share some goals, especially when it comes to nutrition and health. "We're all about good diets, diverse diets, and nutrient-rich diets, " he said. Now, let's talk about Kennedy. He was confirmed by the U. S. Senate with a vote of 52 to 48. In his new role, he'll be in charge of big health agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH. This is a big deal because Kennedy has been vocal about his dislike for artificial ingredients and additives in processed foods. He even criticized the ingredients in Fruit Loops last November. So, what does this mean for companies like Nestle? Well, when Kennedy was picked for the job, stocks for companies like Nestle, Kellogg, and Coca-Cola took a hit. But Steve Presley, the CEO of Nestle’s North America business, had a different take. He said he wasn't too worried about Kennedy's past criticism. Presley believes that Kennedy's ideas about cleaner agriculture align with Nestle's goals. It's clear that the future of packaged foods is up for debate. While some see them as a convenient and safe way to get food, others worry about the health impacts of processed ingredients. This isn't just about one company or one person—it's about how we think about food and health as a society.