00:00A new debate has emerged after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
00:05said he plans to challenge major coffee chains to prove the safety of their sugary iced coffee
00:10drinks. Speaking at an event in Texas, Kennedy said he intends to ask both Dunkin' and Starbucks
00:15to provide safety data for their beverages. He specifically referenced iced coffee drinks that
00:20contain high levels of sugar and questioned whether they are safe for teenagers to consume.
00:24Kennedy said the companies should demonstrate that it is safe for a teenage girl to drink
00:28an iced coffee containing around 115 grams of sugar. He added that he does not believe the
00:33companies will be able to provide such data. His remarks quickly drew attention in Massachusetts,
00:38where Dunkin' iced coffee is widely popular. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy responded
00:43by posting an image of a Dunkin' iced coffee along with the words,
00:46Come and take it. The message referenced a historic slogan associated with the 1835
00:51Diller Battle of Gonzales during the Texas Revolution. The Department of Health and Human Services later
00:56said in a statement that Americans deserve to know what is in their food. The department said it is
01:01committed to ensuring that ingredients added to the food supply are supported by scientific safety
01:05data and introduced through transparent processes. A spokesperson also said the agency plans to
01:10challenge what it calls the generally recognized as safe loophole, which officials say some corporations
01:15use to bypass food and drug administration approval or notification. At the same Texas event,
01:21organized by the political group Maha Action, Kennedy said his department could remove certain
01:25ingredients from the market if they cannot be proven safe. However, he did not identify a specific
01:30ingredient in flavored coffee drinks that he believes is problematic. Share your thoughts
01:34in the comments and do like for more updates.
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