Surgeon General Nominee Could Elevate Public Concern Over Processed Foods

During her Senate confirmation hearing, MAHA stalwart Casey Means faced questions on how she would approach ultra-processed foods and pesticides.

During her Senate confirmation hearing, MAHA stalwart Casey Means faced questions on how she would approach ultra-processed foods and pesticides.

February 26, 2026

*February 26, 2026 – *President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Surgeon General, Casey Means, told senators Wednesday that if confirmed she would use her position to warn consumers about the dangers of ultra-processed foods.

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Members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) questioned Means during her confirmation hearing on a range of issues, including vaccines, birth control, and food policy. Means was first nominated in May, but her original confirmation hearing date in October was postponed after she went into labor shortly before the meeting.

Means has long advocated for changing food choices and farming practices, and she is considered a key leader of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, along with her brother, Calley Means, who is currently a senior adviser for the Department of Health and Human Services. If confirmed and sworn in as surgeon general, Casey Means could elevate MAHA ideas as one of the nation’s most trusted medical positions.

Democrats on the panel appeared concerned by some of Means’ previously expressed concerns about vaccines. During the hearing, she declined to outright reject disproved claims that vaccines cause autism. Democrats also raised concerns about a 2024 appearance Means made on the Tucker Carlson Show, where she claimed that birth control pills are prescribed “like candy.”

Lawmakers appeared more supportive of her views on healthy food. Means said she would use her voice to warn about the dangers of ultra-processed foods, including concerns over television advertisements for these products.

“I think you’ll be frustrated by how much I will be talking about ultra-processed foods,” Means said.

Overall, Means said her “vision” for the role is to get more whole, healthy foods on Americans’ plates. Throughout the hearing she celebrated the latest Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and said this was one way to increase access to these healthy foods by reshaping federal nutrition programs.

Critics have argued that the whole, healthy foods encouraged by the guidelines are still out of reach for many Americans because of high food costs.

The surgeon general does not direct policy, but rather acts as a public health authority and spokesperson. Luther Terry, who was surgeon general from 1961 to 1965, famously used the role to warn about the dangers of smoking.

But few surgeons general have prioritized food policy, or specifically called out ultra-processed foods, nutritionist and author Marion Nestle said. (Nestle is a member of the Civil Eats advisory board.)

“The surgeon general has a fabulous opportunity to push the ‘Eat real food, limit ultra-processed food’ message,” she told Civil Eats. The real test will be whether Means sticks to this message and uses that pulpit to promote policies, Nestle said.

During the hearing, some senators also took the opportunity to press Means on her stance on pesticides, given her ability to influence public perception through the role. Means has been critical of pesticide use in American agricultural systems, but she appeared to soften her approach under questioning.

“I have the utmost respect for the American farmer,” Means said. “Obviously changing anything overnight would be devastating to the American farmer and the American consumer.”

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took a similar position following Trump’s executive order to increase the domestic production of glyphosate, a potentially harmful herbicide.

Means said the administration is dedicated to investigating the impacts of cumulative exposure to chemicals on human health, including pesticides and herbicides.

Her nomination will face a vote from the committee before a full Senate vote. It is not clear when the panel will vote. (Link to this post.)

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