In a coordinated effort to undermine the growing "Make America Healthy Again" movement, which seeks to curb Americans' consumption of soda and ultra-processed foods, major US soft-drink and snack-food corporations have turned to a partially formalized network of for-hire pollsters, strategists, and political financiers with deep ties to the national Republican party.
The American Beverage Association is leading this effort in conjunction with the Consumer Brands Association, two prominent trade groups in the food industry. The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, and Nestlé are among the top soda-makers that pay dues for the right to have a say in either or both of the trade groups' strategies.
These corporations view the Maha movement's efforts as significant threats to their bottom lines. In their most recent annual reports, Coke and Dr Pepper suggested that risks would be compounded if government officials were to voice health concerns about their products. The soda makers did not respond to questions about the lobbying effort.
The campaign's primary goal is to create a narrative that pitting Maga supporters against Make America Healthy Again movement supporters will stymie the Maha-led efforts to curb Americans' consumption of soda and ultra-processed foods. Veteran GOP strategists serving as middle operatives are being used to create the appearance of distance between the companies and their preferred narrative.
The effort features Maga influencers hired by a firm that promotes "anti-woke" movies, an obscure research group Lee Zeldin was working for when Donald Trump picked him to lead the US Environmental Protection Agency, and a media outlet backed by right-wing billionaires Leonard Leo and Charles Koch, among others.
Paid-influencer campaigns have also been used to promote pro-soda messaging nationwide. A group of Maga-aligned influencers were taking the same message nationwide by posting client-approved talking points on Elon Musk's X – all while not disclosing they were being paid to do so.
Industry lobbyists are using a network of pollsters, strategists, and political financiers to make their case to lawmakers directly, while also using right-wing media outlets to promote the narrative that Maha's nutrition agenda is an affront to Trump voters. The goal is to create confusion among policymakers about what issues truly matter to their base.
The campaign highlights the dangers of government overregulation in restricting soda purchases through food-aid programs. Industry lobbyists are attempting to sway conservative lawmakers by threatening a Maga backlash if they oppose the Maha movement's efforts.
Despite the controversy surrounding the lobbying effort, the Trump administration has pushed back on the idea that Maha's nutrition agenda is an affront to its base. The American Beverage Association has described the efforts as an overreach of government authority, but experts argue that it is a thinly veiled attempt by the industry to undermine public health initiatives.
As states begin to pass legislation restricting food dyes in school meals and implementing waivers for SNAP recipients to purchase soda, some argue that this campaign reflects a broader effort to silence public health advocates.
The American Beverage Association is leading this effort in conjunction with the Consumer Brands Association, two prominent trade groups in the food industry. The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Keurig Dr Pepper, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Mondelēz, and Nestlé are among the top soda-makers that pay dues for the right to have a say in either or both of the trade groups' strategies.
These corporations view the Maha movement's efforts as significant threats to their bottom lines. In their most recent annual reports, Coke and Dr Pepper suggested that risks would be compounded if government officials were to voice health concerns about their products. The soda makers did not respond to questions about the lobbying effort.
The campaign's primary goal is to create a narrative that pitting Maga supporters against Make America Healthy Again movement supporters will stymie the Maha-led efforts to curb Americans' consumption of soda and ultra-processed foods. Veteran GOP strategists serving as middle operatives are being used to create the appearance of distance between the companies and their preferred narrative.
The effort features Maga influencers hired by a firm that promotes "anti-woke" movies, an obscure research group Lee Zeldin was working for when Donald Trump picked him to lead the US Environmental Protection Agency, and a media outlet backed by right-wing billionaires Leonard Leo and Charles Koch, among others.
Paid-influencer campaigns have also been used to promote pro-soda messaging nationwide. A group of Maga-aligned influencers were taking the same message nationwide by posting client-approved talking points on Elon Musk's X – all while not disclosing they were being paid to do so.
Industry lobbyists are using a network of pollsters, strategists, and political financiers to make their case to lawmakers directly, while also using right-wing media outlets to promote the narrative that Maha's nutrition agenda is an affront to Trump voters. The goal is to create confusion among policymakers about what issues truly matter to their base.
The campaign highlights the dangers of government overregulation in restricting soda purchases through food-aid programs. Industry lobbyists are attempting to sway conservative lawmakers by threatening a Maga backlash if they oppose the Maha movement's efforts.
Despite the controversy surrounding the lobbying effort, the Trump administration has pushed back on the idea that Maha's nutrition agenda is an affront to its base. The American Beverage Association has described the efforts as an overreach of government authority, but experts argue that it is a thinly veiled attempt by the industry to undermine public health initiatives.
As states begin to pass legislation restricting food dyes in school meals and implementing waivers for SNAP recipients to purchase soda, some argue that this campaign reflects a broader effort to silence public health advocates.
It's like they want you to believe that if you support healthier eating, you're somehow against "Maga" voters... it just doesn't add up.
It's like they're playing a game where if you try to do what's good for your country, people will think you're against certain groups... it's ridiculous.
. By utilizing a network of for-hire pollsters, strategists, and political financiers with ties to the Republican party, these corporations aim to create confusion among policymakers about what issues truly matter to their base 
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. This campaign highlights the dangers of government overregulation and the need for policymakers to remain independent from industry interests 
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. The Trump administration's push back on these initiatives only serves to further entrench the status quo, leaving vulnerable populations like low-income families and children at risk of unhealthy food choices 
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. And let's be real, this is exactly what we need – more lies and half-truths to confuse people about what really matters 
. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is just going along with it, which is just great 
. It's like they're both in cahoots with these corporations 
. The whole thing reeks of corporate greed and a blatant disregard for public health 
. Can we please just focus on making America healthy for real this time? 
it feels like they're more worried about making money than helping ppl's health. i mean, why should they have so much influence over what we can and cant eat? its not fair that they get to pay off politicians to block public health initiatives 
it's like they're trying to control what we eat & drink... makes sense considering the profits 
it's all about keeping their bottom line 
[ Image of a person holding a giant soda can with a "NO" caption ] 
They think they can control what we drink? Get real, America! 
[ GIF of a person spitting out a soda can ]
The corporations are trying to confuse the issue and make it all about "us vs them." But we should be focusing on making America healthy for everyone, not just the people who can afford their fancy snacks. 
[ GIF of a person flexing ]
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They're using their resources to influence lawmakers and create a narrative that pits MAGA supporters against health advocates. It's like, they're trying to distract us from the real issue - making our country healthier for future generations 
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. And then they're using influencers on social media to spread their message without even disclosing that they're being paid for it 
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. We need more people speaking out against this kind of behavior and not letting corporations control our health decisions. It's like they're trying to divide us between those who care about their profits and those who care about our well-being 
. I'm all for free markets, but when it comes to public health, we can't let corporate interests win out. We need to stand up for ourselves and demand better 
. They're using influencers, pollsters, and even right-wing billionaires to promote their narrative that Make America Healthy Again is a threat to their business 
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and trying to confuse lawmakers about what issues matter to their base