The New York Times is being mocked for adding in a fact check paragraph which readers say helps to prove the very thing they’re saying is untrue.
The title of the article in question is “Kennedy’s Vow to Take On Big Food Could Alienate His New G.O.P. Allies.” It focuses on how limiting processed foods is a major goal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former presidential candidate in the 2024 election who dropped out of the race and later endorsed Donald Trump.
Now, the president-elect has nominated RFK Jr. to be head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a move which would help advance the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) agenda.
The NYT article says RFK Jr.’s appointment will likely affect the relationship between Republicans and corporate America, specifically large food manufacturing companies.
The article quoted Kennedy as asking during an interview with MSNBC, “Why do we have Froot Loops in this country that have 18 or 19 ingredients and you go to Canada and it has two or three?”
The writer continued, noting that Kennedy “was wrong on the ingredient count” and that the cereal in the U.S. and Canada is “roughly the same.”
“But the Canadian version does have natural colorings made from blueberries and carrots while the U.S. product contains red dye 40, yellow 5 and blue 1 as well as Butylated hydroxytoluene, or BHT, a lab-made chemical that is used ‘for freshness,’ according to the ingredient label,” the NYT writer notes.
That paragraph led to questions and mockery on social media.
“Spitting out my coffee after reading this NYT ‘fact check’ of RFK Jr,” one popular reply says.
“The NY Times is trying to be funny, right?” another person wrote in response.
“I cannot believe this is a real paragraph in The New York Times. I didn’t think they can possibly lose even more credibility. You literally can’t make this up,” Libs of TikTok shared.
Trump addressed his goals regarding the appointment RFK Jr., sharing on social media last week, “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health. The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.”
He added, “Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”
