RFK Jr. Challenges Dunkin' and Starbucks Over Sugary Drinks
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked Dunkin' and Starbucks to show safety data for iced coffees with 115 grams of sugar, prompting a 'COME AND TAKE IT' response from Gov. Maura Healey on March 4.
Boston GlobeRFK Jr. responds to uproar after singling out Dunkin' for sugary drinks
Rolling StoneRFK Jr. Pisses Off New England With Dunkin' Threats
SlateRFK Jr. Picked a Fight With America’s Favorite Coffee Shops. He Might Be on to Something.
Boston Globe'Give me Dunkin’ or give me death': Readers react to RFK Jr.'s Dunkin' remarks
Overview
At a Feb. 26 rally in Austin, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he would ask Dunkin' and Starbucks to show safety data for an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar.
Federal dietary guidelines published earlier this year recommend meals should have no more than 10 grams of added sugar, while multiple chain drinks exceed that amount.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey responded on March 4 with a 'COME AND TAKE IT' image, and an informal poll of 770 readers found 396 agreed and 382 disagreed with Kennedy's remarks.
Dunkin' says at least six drinks top 100 grams of sugar and one large frozen item listed 172 grams, and the CDC links frequent sugary drink consumption to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The Department of Health and Human Services did not clarify what action Kennedy may take, and Dunkin' and Starbucks did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a public-health concern by foregrounding official guidelines, expert warnings, and quantified sugar content while spotlighting potential regulatory action. Coverage emphasizes CDC-identified health risks and HHS involvement, highlights a public-health expert’s critique, and omits industry responses or contextual economic perspectives.
FAQ
RFK Jr. asked Dunkin' and Starbucks to show safety data for iced coffees containing 115 grams of sugar.
Federal dietary guidelines recommend meals should have no more than 10 grams of added sugar.
Gov. Maura Healey responded with a 'COME AND TAKE IT' image on March 4.
Dunkin' has at least six drinks topping 100 grams of sugar, with one large frozen item at 172 grams.
The CDC links frequent sugary drink consumption to obesity and type 2 diabetes.
