MAHA draft takes on electromagnetic radiation, echoing RFK Jr.‘s conspiracies

The Trump administration is reportedly working on a new health initiative that focuses on reviewing the safety of electromagnetic radiation, a topic often associated with conspiracy theories regarding Wi-Fi and 5G. This draft, obtained by Politico, is part of the "Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy" developed by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission. Although the report aims to influence health policy, it has not yet been officially endorsed by the White House. Critics are viewing the document as overly sympathetic to industry interests, as it lacks actionable policy recommendations or regulatory proposals. For example, it fails to address significant issues such as restrictions on pesticides or the consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are central to the MAHA movement's agenda. Instead, much of the report reiterates the controversial viewpoints of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including skepticism towards water fluoridation and childhood vaccines, and advocating for increased physical activity among children. Notably, the strategy overlooks major causes of death among American children, such as firearms and motor vehicle accidents. While it acknowledges cancer, it does so only within the context of promoting new artificial intelligence technologies at the National Institutes of Health. Similarly, although the report touches on water quality, it focuses solely on fluoride, neglecting other critical contaminants like lead and PFAS. The draft does emphasize the importance of consuming whole, minimally processed foods, but it lacks a concrete plan to decrease the prevalence of ultra-processed foods in the American diet. Instead, it proposes to establish a “government-wide definition” for ultra-processed foods to guide future research and policy decisions.