RFK Jr. report urges expanded breastfeeding support, larger donor milk supply and tighter infant-formula rules

A report from the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday urged federal action to increase breastfeeding support, expand access to screened donor human milk and tighten regulation of infant formula.

The report directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS to “work to increase breastfeeding rates,” suggesting changes to programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or other policies that would provide greater assistance to breastfeeding mothers. It also calls for the agencies to “work with other Federal partners to develop policies to promote and ensure a safe supply of donor human milk.”

The report noted that only about 30% of U.S. women exclusively breastfed for the first six months of an infant’s life, while about 50% did so for the first three months, citing the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings from 2022. For mothers who do not or cannot breastfeed, the commission urged stronger oversight of infant formula. It recommended that the Food and Drug Administration modernize nutrient requirements, increase testing for heavy metals and other contaminants, and encourage companies to develop improved formulas.

Kennedy has made infant nutrition a focus of his MAHA agenda. The report recalls an HHS review launched in March to explore options for expanding access to nutritious infant formula. Kennedy has said federal regulators must use available authorities to ensure formula products are “safe and wholesome for the families and children who rely on them.”

Infant formula has faced supply and safety challenges in recent years. A bacterial contamination at an Abbott Nutrition factory in Michigan in 2022 led to an extended shutdown and contributed to nationwide shortages that were further strained by pandemic-era disruptions. The MAHA report compared U.S. rules with European standards, noting that some European formulas are less likely to contain artificial sweeteners and that Europe requires docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega fatty acid, and imposes other restrictions on synthetic additives and genetically modified ingredients.

The commission also addressed the transfer and resale of human breast milk. Federal regulators have long warned against buying breast milk from unknown sources because of infection risks, improper handling and the possibility of contamination by medications. The report’s recommendations seek to expand regulated pathways for donor human milk, pointing to existing nonprofit milk banks that screen and pasteurize donated milk for distribution to infants in need. It noted that informal online marketplaces for surplus milk are legal but generally unregulated.

Beyond human milk and formula, the MAHA report recommended easing certain restrictions on animal-milk products. It urged removal of barriers that prevent small dairy operations from processing and selling milk locally and recommended lifting limits on whole milk sales in schools.

The proposals are part of a broader MAHA initiative aimed at reshaping federal efforts to prevent and manage childhood chronic disease. If adopted, the commission’s recommendations would prompt policy and regulatory work across USDA, HHS and FDA, including potential changes to WIC, new guidance or standards for donor-milk programs, and updated nutrient and contaminant testing requirements for infant formula.

The report does not set binding rules but lays out policy options for the administration and Congress to consider as part of an effort the commission frames as improving early childhood nutrition and reducing chronic-disease risk. Federal agencies and industry stakeholders would need to weigh implementation details, funding and regulatory authority before changes could take effect.