With the results from the recent presidential election, many are questioning how the country will change in the coming years. As political polarization increases, the potential shifts in policy from education, to economics, to environmental or abortion laws, has increased the contentiousness of politics. Among the most pressing concerns is how a transition from a Democratic to a Republican-led government might affect the nation’s food system, including factors such as the accessibility of nutritious food, the prices of groceries, and overall policy regulation.
Professor Shonil Bhagwat, an expert in environmental and development studies at The Open University, underscores the importance of a strong food system in shaping public health outcomes. A weakened food system, he warns, could contribute to the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia (1). The regulation of the agricultural industry plays a debatably over-intrusive, but existent role in ensuring that food remains safe and nutritious. Industrial farming practices like monocropping rely heavily on chemical interventions, which are regulated to protect both environmental and public health. However, the widespread production of cheap, low-nutrient food from these industrial farming practices has diminished the diversity of the American diet, making it harder for people to access healthy options (2) and increasing the contentiousness over the appropriate level of government involvement in agricultural policies. As policies around agriculture, environmental restrictions, food assistance programs, and tariffs continue to evolve, they will have a direct impact on food accessibility and nutrition across the nation.
Project 2025, a policy blueprint written by many of Trump’s cabinet members, suggests that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should play a more limited role. This would include defunding critical programs like farmer subsidies, food stamps, and free school meals (1). Professor Bhagwat argues that such policy shifts would severely weaken U.S. food assistance programs, leaving low-income groups with even less access to the nutritious foods they need. Additionally, the deregulation of the food industry could lead to an influx of ultra-processed foods, pushing low-nutrient options to dominate the market and further exacerbating disparities in food access. Project 2025 also proposes eliminating national dietary guidelines, which have long served as a foundation for public health recommendations aimed at disease prevention (5). One of the key proposals under a potential Trump administration is to reduce food prices by curbing inflation and increasing domestic oil and gas production, however most mainstream economists fear Trump’s proposed economic plans will worsen inflation (6), putting already vulnerable communities at risk by increasing prices of healthy food.
Further complicating matters, Trump's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved over 100 toxic pesticides in 2020, many of which are banned in other countries. This includes 69 pesticides with "known" or "likely" carcinogens, which pose additional risks to public health (3). The proposed tariffs on Chinese imports could also lead to higher prices for essential dietary supplements, as the domestic supply of basics like letter vitamins is essentially nonexist, as well as create trade barriers for livestock farmers, who may find it harder to sell meat abroad (4). While these tariffs could boost the domestic supply of medicinal herbs, many ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine are difficult to grow at scale in the U.S., limiting their availability. With mass deportation of undocumented people, farm labor will diminish, as 44% of farm workers are undocumented. This may open jobs to Americans, but is more likely to cause companies to find ways to accommodate for less workers rather than hire more, a situation that could cause the collapse of the agricultural sector (7).
In conclusion, while the 2024 election presents significant challenges for the future of America's food system, it also offers a critical opportunity for positive change. The potential policy shifts, such as the reduction of food assistance programs and deregulation of the food industry, could have serious consequences for public health and access to nutritious food. However, this moment also calls for a renewed commitment to rethinking how we produce, distribute, and consume food in this country. By advocating for sustainable farming practices, stronger food safety regulations, and more robust support for vulnerable communities, there is hope for building a more equitable and health-conscious food system. It is up to all of us to engage in the conversation and work together—across political divides—to ensure that healthy, nutritious food is accessible to every American, regardless of income or background. The future of our food system depends on the choices we make today, and with collective effort, we can create a more resilient and nourishing food landscape for generations to come.
Reviewed By: Jack Ringel
Designed By: Soojin Lee
References:
Willmoth, H. (2024). Trump win would stop vulnerable accessing nutritious food, says expert. https://www.newsweek.com/trump-win-stop-vulnerable-accessing-nutritious-food-1979938
Foodprint, (2024). How our food system affects public health. https://foodprint.org/issues/how-our-food-system-affects-public-health/
Center for Biological Diversity, (2020). Analysis: Trump EPA approved 100-plus products with pesticides banned elsewhere or slated for U.S phaseout. https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/analysis-trump-epa-approved-100-plus-products-pesticides-banned-elsewhere-or-slated-us-phaseout-2020-01-07/
Polito, R. (2024). Donald Trump’s election offers peril and promise to dietary supplement industry, insiders say. https://www.newhope.com/industry-news/donald-trump-election-president-offers-peril-promise-supplement-industry-insiders-say
Dietary Guidelines. (n.d.). Purpose of dietary guidelines. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/about-dietary-guidelines/purpose-dietary-guidelines#:~:text=The%20Dietary%20Guidelines%20for%20Americans,promote%20health%2C%20and%20prevent%20disease.
Rugaber, C. (2024). Trump’s economic plan would worsen inflation, experts say https://apnews.com/article/trump-inflation-tariffs-taxes-immigration-federal-reserve-a18de763fcc01557258c7f33cab375ed
Investigate Midwest. (2024). Four ways Trump could impact the agriculture sector during second term https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/11/06/four-ways-trump-could-impact-the-agriculture-sector-during-second-term/
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