Exclusive | MAHA school lunch program seeing impressive results tackling ultra-processed foods, says FDA head

Lunch ladies are getting a MAHA makeover.The Food and Drug Administration’s $17 million pilot program aimed at helping schools serve MAHA-approved meals to students is up and running — and already reportedly seeing results.FDA Administrator Marty Makary told The Post that nationwide, up to 70% of children’s diets now come from ultra-processed foods, which are often loaded with salt, refined sugars, cholesterol-spiking fats and a slew of lab-made additives you wouldn’t normally find in a home kitchen.Over time, heavy consumption has been linked to health problems including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiometabolic disease, anxiety, depression and certain cancers.But the new program is looking to facilitate a shift to healthier options — and at least one participating school has already reported “some impressive results” in cutting back on ultra-processed foods served to students.“We think people should have freedom of choice and eat whatever they want,” Makary said.“But for schools who want to make a shift — [and] may not have the expertise, coaching, knowledge or direction, and are seeking it — we have this program.”The pilot involves a research study whereby the FDA provides resources to schools, “mostly in the form of education and coaching and mentorship to help them transition to some healthier foods.”That effort was on display last Thursday, when Makary visited the Academy for Global Citizenship, a charter school on Chicago’s southwest side, to see how it has put the agency’s funding to work.“They saw … a 70% to 80% reduction in total pesticide content and a 80% to 90% reduction in heavy metals by doing some basic things like shifting from using a pre-made processed bagel to making their own English muffins in-house,” he said.In general, pesticides are used to protect crops from damage, but exposure to some of these chemicals has been linked to potential health risks — particularly in children, with studies suggesting ...