Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is taking aim at two familiar morning stops—Dunkin’ and Starbucks—arguing that their high-sugar drinks need sharper justification, especially for teenagers.
He recently called on the companies to provide “the safety data” showing their products are okay for adolescents. In late-month remarks, Kennedy said he wanted Dunkin’ and Starbucks to show that an iced coffee containing 115 grams of sugar is safe for a teenage girl, adding he doesn’t think they’ll be able to. The whole thing sits inside his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, which has already been pushing the conversation toward food and beverage reform.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey—where Dunkin’ is based—responded on X with “COME AND TAKE IT,” posting an image of a Dunkin’ cup. It’s the kind of back-and-forth that gets attention fast, but behind the political tone is a set of public-health concerns that health experts say are hard to ignore. The smell of coffee in the air outside a shop is comforting, sure—yet the sugar content is the part that’s suddenly become the headline.
Federal dietary guidelines published earlier this year recommend meals should have no more than 10 grams of added sugar. But Misryoum newsroom reported that nearly every drink on the Dunkin’ menu exceeds that amount, and at least six have more than 100 grams. Kennedy’s push, then, isn’t only about taste or habit; it’s about whether mainstream offerings effectively turn beverages into something closer to “liquid candy.” Dr. Céline Gounder, a CBS News contributor, is quoted saying this isn’t about one brand. She argued that ultra-processed foods and beverages are bad for you regardless of who sells them, and that a go-to drink really shouldn’t be liquid candy. Actually, the framing matters—because it shifts the question from individual companies to the wider food environment.
Misryoum newsroom also points to evidence around policy and behavior. Studies show taxes on sugary drinks and photo warnings can reduce consumption. Still, Dr. Gounder said a direct ban is unlikely to happen. “It’s gonna require either new legislation and regulation, or state and local governments stepping in where they can,” she said. In her view, the FDA is not the sugar police and it can’t ban sugar from beverages.
Kennedy’s intervention raises an obvious practical problem: if products are staying on shelves, who has the power to change what’s sold—and under what standard of proof? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says frequently drinking sugary drinks is associated with “weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities.” The Department of Health and Human Services said it has strengthened reviews and closed loopholes, but did not clarify what action Kennedy may take to stop businesses from selling high-sugar drinks.
Dunkin’ and Starbucks have not responded to Kennedy’s comments. On Thursday, Dunkin’ announced the release of a zero-sugar energy drink available in six flavors. It’s a small product move—maybe a sign of where the market is going, or maybe just a separate strategy. Either way, the bigger question Kennedy is posing remains: what counts as “safe” for teenagers, and how much evidence will companies be required—or pressured—to produce?
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