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During a press conference on Friday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey announced groundbreaking health initiatives, though the event took an unexpected turn when Kennedy made light-hearted comments about the governor’s weight.
In a moment of levity that drew laughter and applause from the audience, Kennedy teased Morrisey, saying, “You look like you ate Governor Morrisey.” He then announced his plans to become the governor’s personal trainer, promising to implement a strict regimen including a carnivore diet. “When he’s lost 30 pounds, I’m going to come back to the state and do a celebration and a public weigh-in with him,” Kennedy declared.
While some media outlets criticized the exchange, the press conference’s primary focus was on significant health policy changes in West Virginia, which currently leads the nation in obesity rates.
“This could have nationwide effects on all food production because one state did it.”
West Virginia is leading the way by banning artificial dyes in food. pic.twitter.com/08dZV8KFXs
— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) March 6, 2025
The state has enacted pioneering legislation banning certain synthetic food dyes and preservatives that have been linked to various health concerns, particularly in children. This move aligns with the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative championed by Kennedy.
“West Virginia is strongly embracing the Make America Healthy Again movement,” Morrisey announced in a press release. “We’re getting junk out of our foods, promoting exercise, and putting nutrition back into SNAP. Thank you to Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins for their commitment to ensuring the next generation of Americans lives a healthier and happier life.”
The state’s latest initiatives include submitting a waiver to remove soda from SNAP food stamp benefits, making it the first state to take such action. Kennedy praised this move and encouraged other states to follow suit, stating, “I commend the 24 states pushing MAHA bills to clean up our food system, improve school lunches, submit waivers to SNAP, and promote patient choice. This state leadership adds leverage to the Trump administration’s drive to Make America Healthy Again. I urge every Governor to follow West Virginia’s lead and submit a waiver to the USDA to remove soda from SNAP.”
West Virginia passed a bill this week to ban food dyes, beginning first with food given to schools. #MAHA pic.twitter.com/TwJ6MhQ9dv
— RealityNotFiction (@RealNotFiction) March 30, 2025
The urgency of these measures is underscored by CDC data showing West Virginia as one of only three states with an obesity prevalence exceeding 40% as of 2023.
During the event, Kennedy revealed that food companies had recently approached him with concerns about state-specific regulations. “The food companies all came and met with me two weeks ago, and they’re scared of me, but they’re more scared of Governor Morrissey… they said, ‘tell us what you want and we’re going to do it.’ And they said, ‘but stop these governors from passing these laws, because we don’t want a patch work where West Virginia and California are banning food dyes, and we have to make special products for those states.’ So they’re terrified of this, of what you’re doing, and the message that I want to give to the country today and to all the other governors is get in line behind Governor Morrissey and apply for a waiver to my agency, and we’re going to give it to you. That’s the way we’re going to witness.”
