NANCY CORDES:
00:00:16
Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. upended the nation's food pyramid today, urging Americans to avoid highly processed, packaged foods and to prioritize protein and full-fat dairy instead. You said you're ending the war on saturated fats. Where is the evidence that that is a good idea? Well, the problem is that there is no good evidence that saturated fats drive cardiac disease.
NANCY CORDES:
00:00:43
The American Heart Association disputed that today, though it did applaud Kennedy's emphasis on increasing vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Tiny fraction.
NANCY CORDES:
00:00:53
It has been a busy week for Kennedy. On Monday, the CDC, which he oversees, rolled back recommendations that all children be immunized against rotavirus, hepatitis, and the flu. We're not taking vaccines away from anybody. But it is more difficult now for parents to get their children immunized for the flu, right? They can't just go to a pharmacy. Yeah, you need to do shared decision making with your physician, which is how it ought to be. So fewer people will get the flu vaccine? Well, that may be, and maybe that's a better thing.
NANCY CORDES:
00:01:23
Kennedy is a longtime vaccine skeptic, but during confirmation hearings last year, he vowed to support the CDC's vaccine schedule. Isn't this a violation of your promise? No, we are-- this is the CDC vaccine schedule, and I am supporting it.
NANCY CORDES:
00:01:39
The American Academy of Pediatrics called the changes "dangerous and unnecessary" and is urging parents to stick with the old guidelines. Nancy Cordes, CBS News, the White House.
