Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a new campaign demanding that Dunkin' and other food companies prove their ingredients are safe for consumption, particularly targeting high-sugar beverages. At a Texas rally, Kennedy specifically challenged Dunkin' about selling drinks containing 115 grams of sugar to teenage girls, questioning whether companies can provide safety data for such products.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey responded defiantly to Kennedy's criticism of the Canton-based chain, posting a modified version of the historic "Come and Take It" flag on social media. Instead of a cannon, Healey's image featured a silhouetted Dunkin' cup, signaling her resistance to federal interference with the state's iconic brand. Kennedy's nonprofit health advocacy group MAHA Action framed the initiative as ensuring American foods meet the highest global safety and nutritional standards.

Kennedy's push targets the GRAS loophole (Generally Recognized as Safe), which he argues allows food companies to self-certify thousands of additives without FDA oversight. In a recent "60 Minutes" interview, Kennedy claimed this exemption has flooded the American food supply with ingredients banned in Europe, where only 400 food additives are legal. The National Association of Manufacturers has pushed back, warning that changes could disrupt America's food supply chain and raise costs for consumers and companies.