The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) warned that the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission’s newly released strategy report could derail progress made under the administration to strengthen American industry while protecting public health.
NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons called the report a “shocking misstep,” saying its recommendations could saddle the nation’s manufacturers with unnecessary regulations.
“Manufacturers are concerned that policies based on faulty information and misguided science could result in overly burdensome and ineffective regulatory proposals for manufacturers without making consumers safer,” said Timmons in a Sept. 9 statement. “If implemented, the strategy would harm manufacturers across the country and the consumers who benefit from an efficient, healthy and cost-effective supply chain.
“It also would add to the compliance burden that the administration has made so many great strides to unwind,” he added.
Timmons emphasized that U.S. manufacturers already invest heavily in compliance, spending nearly $350 million annually on regulatory requirements — capital that could otherwise go toward jobs, innovation, and facility improvements.
He also noted that manufacturers in sectors ranging from chemicals to pharmaceuticals to food and beverage already adhere to rigorous standards to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable products.
“They comply with strict regulatory guidelines and lead with innovation to deliver safe and reliable products, ensure resilient and secure supply chains, safeguard health, preserve consumer choice, and enhance accessibility and affordability,” Timmons said.
At the same time, he said manufacturers remain committed to working with the administration to ensure the industry continues to deliver safe, innovative, and affordable products to American families.
“But the strategy of the MAHA report will take America in the wrong direction,” he pointed out, adding that the MAHA report risks reversing the administration’s gains made in reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens.
The statement coincides with NAM’s launch of a new national ad campaign showcasing the role of the food and beverage supply chain in delivering nutritious, affordable food to Americans.
NAM said the campaign highlights the people, innovation, and communities that power the nation’s food system — from farms and shop floors to restaurants and kitchen tables — to remind policymakers and the public about the manufacturing industry’s “essential contribution to safe, healthy, nutritious, and affordable food for every American family,” according to its statement.