Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sounded the alarm on the American food supply during an exclusive appearance on Breitbart’s “The Alex Marlow Show” on Friday, drawing a stark contrast between the United States and Europe.
“We have 10,000 ingredients in our food, whereas Europeans only have 400,” Kennedy said on the program, which airs weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern on the Salem Radio Network and at 9 p.m. Eastern on the Salem TV news channel.
The comment, delivered without further elaboration during the interview, underscores a growing concern among some policymakers and public health advocates about the number of additives, preservatives, and other substances permitted in American food products compared to their European counterparts.
A Widening Gap in Food Regulation
Kennedy’s remarks come amid ongoing debates over food safety and regulatory reform in the United States. European Union regulations have long been viewed as more restrictive when it comes to food additives, banning or limiting substances that are still widely used in American products. The comparison Kennedy offered is one that has been cited by consumer advocacy groups and public health experts who argue that the U.S. food regulatory framework is too permissive.
While the exact figures of 10,000 and 400 ingredients were not detailed in the interview, they align with broader critiques of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval process, which some say allows ingredients to enter the market without rigorous pre-market safety testing.
Kennedy, who has made food and nutrition a central focus of his tenure at HHS, has previously spoken about the need to address chronic disease and reform the nation’s food system. His appearance on the show continues that pattern, using the platform to draw attention to what he characterized as a significant disparity in the number of approved ingredients between the two markets.
Political and Policy Implications
The remarks quickly drew attention from listeners and observers who see the issue as a potential flashpoint in the broader political debate over regulation and public health. Some proponents of reform argue that the U.S. should align more closely with European standards, while critics caution against overregulation and its potential impact on food producers and consumers.
Kennedy did not propose specific policy changes during the interview, but his comments are likely to fuel ongoing discussions about the future of food safety oversight in the United States. As head of HHS, he oversees agencies that play a key role in food regulation, including the FDA, which has faced renewed scrutiny over its handling of food additives.
The appearance on “The Alex Marlow Show,” hosted by Breitbart Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow, marked one of Kennedy’s latest media engagements since assuming his role. The show, which broadcasts coast to coast and also releases a podcast edition weekdays at 9 p.m. Eastern, has become a notable platform for conservative voices and policymakers.
Neither Kennedy’s office nor HHS has issued a formal statement expanding on his remarks, but the comment has already become a talking point for those following the intersection of health policy and politics. Whether the numbers reflect a precise count of all ingredients, or a broader categorization, remains unclear, but the sentiment behind the comparison is unmistakable: the U.S. food supply, in Kennedy’s view, is far more cluttered with ingredients than what Europeans encounter on their shelves.
The full interview is available on the Salem Radio Network and the Salem TV news channel, with the podcast version posted across major platforms including YouTube, Rumble, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/08/15/exclusive-robert-kennedy-jr-we-have-10000-ingredients-in-our-food-europeans-have-400/