A senior official at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has accused an advocacy group connected to multiple processed food corporations of undermining Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to improve the nation’s food supply.

Calley Means, a senior adviser at HHS, alleged in a social media post on August 9, 2026, that the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP) is a "fake ‘food borne illness advocacy’ group [funded] to give quotes to media attacking RFK’s ‘real food’ pitch and argue ultraprocessed food is safer."

STOP, founded in 1994 to raise awareness of foodborne illnesses following a 1993 E. coli outbreak linked to undercooked fast food on the West Coast, did not immediately respond to requests for comment, nor did HHS or Means.

Secretary Kennedy, who has pledged special attention to the U.S. food supply, dismissed criticism of HHS’s handling of the ongoing cyclospora outbreak as "invalid" and unrelated to agency staffing changes, according to a Politico report.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 10,000 laboratory-confirmed domestic cases of cyclosporiasis linked to contaminated iceberg lettuce since May 1, 2026, with an additional 12,000 cases still under evaluation. Kennedy stated during a July 21 press conference, "We do have the [cyclospora] outbreak under control. We’ve identified the source of the outbreak."

On July 30, Kennedy also announced the launch of "The Real Food Show," aimed at empowering families to make healthy eating practical, approachable, and affordable.

A CBS News poll published July 26 found that approximately 53% of Americans have "some" or "a lot" of confidence in the Food and Drug Administration’s handling of the outbreak.

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