RFK Jr. Issues a Demand to Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, and the Internet Is Not Having It
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has set his sights on two of America’s most beloved coffee chains. At a rally in Austin, Texas, Kennedy called on Dunkin’ and Starbucks to prove their high-sugar drinks are safe for teenagers, sparking a wave of online mockery, memes, and a sharp response from a sitting governor that quickly went viral.
The Challenge Kennedy Issued at an Austin Rally
Speaking at Brazos Hall in Austin, Kennedy issued a pointed challenge to the two chains: “We’re going to ask Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, ‘Show us the safety data that show that it’s OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it.'” He made his position clear, adding that he didn’t think either company would be able to deliver that proof.
How Much Sugar Is Actually in These Drinks?
The numbers behind Kennedy’s challenge tell their own story. Federal dietary guidelines recommend no more than 10 grams of added sugar per meal, yet nearly every drink on Dunkin’s menu exceeds that threshold, according to CBS News. At least six Dunkin’ menu items contain more than 100 grams of sugar, making the gap between recommended limits and what’s being served a central point of Kennedy’s argument.
A Governor Fired Back With a Dunkin’ Cup
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, whose state is home to Dunkin’, didn’t hold back. She posted on X with an image of a Dunkin’ cup replacing the cannon on the 1835 “Come and Take It” flag, a symbol originally tied to the Texas Revolution. Kennedy replied on X, clarifying he wasn’t trying to ban anything but questioning whether drinks loaded with 180 grams of sugar were safe.
The Internet Responded With Memes, Jokes, and Revolutionary Imagery
Social media quickly turned the moment into a flood of jokes and revolutionary imagery. On X, one user swapped the cannon on a revolutionary flag for a Dunkin’ cup, captioning it “Donut Tread On Me.” Another wrote that protecting Dunkin’ from federal interference is “what militias are for.” A third posted an image of someone mid-punch while gripping an iced coffee, with the caption: “leave my type two diabetes alone.”
A Medical Expert Says a Ban Is Unlikely
While the backlash dominated headlines, CBS News contributor Dr. Céline Gounder weighed in on what Kennedy can actually do. “The FDA is not the sugar police, and it can’t ban sugar from beverages,” she said. Any meaningful restriction, she noted, would require new legislation or state and local action. Research has found that warning labels and pricing measures can curb how much sugary drinks people consume, but a direct federal ban faces steep legal and regulatory barriers.
The Health Stakes Behind the Headlines
The health data on sugary drinks is worth a closer look. According to the CDC, regularly drinking sugary beverages is linked to weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, and tooth decay. A 2024 BMJ review found that diets high in ultra-processed foods were associated with an increased risk of 32 harmful health outcomes, adding context to the broader conversation about what Americans are consuming daily.
Kennedy’s Dunkin’ Challenge Is Part of a Larger MAHA Push
The Dunkin’ and Starbucks challenge is one piece of Kennedy’s larger Make America Healthy Again campaign. Earlier this year, he released updated dietary guidelines warning that poor food choices have been “devastating,” noting that over 70 percent of American adults are now overweight or obese, and nearly one in three adolescents between ages 12 and 17 have prediabetes. The Dunkin’ challenge reflects how far Kennedy is willing to take that effort.
A Regulatory Loophole Has Kept Ingredients Off the FDA’s Radar
Kennedy also used the Austin rally to call for closing a long-standing regulatory gap. Under current rules, food ingredients classified as “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS, don’t require FDA approval before entering the food supply. The Environmental Working Group has warned that this loophole has allowed hundreds of chemicals into food products without federal oversight or public disclosure, a concern Kennedy said he intends to address.
Dunkin’ Stayed Silent, Then Quietly Launched a Zero-Sugar Drink
Neither Dunkin’ nor Starbucks has publicly responded to Kennedy’s challenge. Dunkin’ announced the release of a new zero-sugar energy drink available in six flavors, a launch that landed just days after the controversy broke. Whether coincidence or calculated, the timing didn’t go unnoticed, and the broader debate over sugar, regulation, and consumer choice shows no signs of cooling down.
