Surgeon General Nominee Could Elevate Public Concern Over Processed Foods

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.)