F&B trade groups on Trump: Organizations share concerns, optimism for next four years

Trade groups like the Consumers Brands Association and The Institute for Food Technologists (IFT) signaled optimism in working with the new administration on issues relevant to the respected trade groups, while the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) came out strongly against the incoming administration over environmental and science misinformation concerns, respectively.

Additionally, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) focused its election comments on its commitment to supporting healthy foods and passing the long-delayed farm bill, which was echoed in statements made by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Consumer Brands Association: ‘American families depend on reliable, affordable access to everyday essentials’  

The Consumer Brands Association — representing over 60 CPG companies including PepsiCo, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, The Kraft Heinz Company, Nestlé and others — reaffirmed its commitment to the CPG industry, while cautioning against regulations that could impact consumers.

“As an industry that Americans trust and rely on every day, supporting over 22.3 million good-paying jobs across the nation, we look forward to partnering with President-elect Trump's Administration and Congress to advance policies that drive economic growth, foster innovation and are backed by science to ensure continued access to safe, affordable, high-quality consumer product choices,” said Sarah Gallo, senior VP of federal affairs at Consumer Brands Association, in prepared remarks shared with FoodNavigator-USA.

Inflation continues to apply pressure to consumers' buying power, and lawmakers need to “avoid implementing measures that could create unnecessary barriers or costs” and “such policies would disproportionately impact those Americans already struggling to make ends meet,” Gallo noted.

She added, “American families depend on reliable, affordable access to everyday essentials — from household goods to personal care items to food and beverages — and the CPG industry is committed to delivering for them every day."

IFT advocates for ‘increased funding for food, agriculture, and nutrition research’ in Trump admin

IFT – the non-profit society representing food scientists and technologists – advocated for more science-based regulations while similarly striking a cooperative tone, in a statement shared with FoodNavigator-USA.

“[IFT] is looking forward to working with the new administration on elevating the central role of food science in food and nutrition security, food safety and sustainable food systems as IFT continues to advocate for more science-based regulations in policies and legislation. The need for increased funding for food, agriculture, and nutrition research, as well as food science expertise on critical forums such as the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, grows more urgent every day,” said Bryan Hitchcock, chief science and technology officer at IFT.

IFPA: ‘Congress must take swift action to pass a new, inclusive farm bill’

IFPA "stands ready to work collaboratively with the incoming president and the new administration" while the organization doubled down on its mission to provide fresh fruits and vegetables, which is "a critical step in building a healthier, more resilient future for all Americans," IFPA CEO Cathy Burns shared in prepared statements with FoodNavigator-USA.

“Priorities for IFPA members remain clear. Congress must take swift action to pass a new, inclusive farm bill that addresses the evolving needs of US agriculture. For the fresh produce industry, this legislation is a cornerstone, supplying critical resources to growers and producers and ensuring the stability of our nation’s food supply. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, which IFPA co-chairs alongside over 200 organizations, is making the case for a robust package of policy and program proposals to Congress, aimed at strengthening specialty crop agriculture and broadening the reach of US agricultural policy,” Burns said.

She added, “Currently, more than 80% of the farm bill’s funding supports nutrition programs, yet only one in ten Americans meet recommended dietary guidelines for fruits and vegetables. This is a crucial moment to reshape our nation’s food supply by expanding access to fresh produce to improve health outcomes for all.”

Good Food Institute: ‘Good policy is good policy.’

Good Food Institute (GFI), a non-profit think tank focused on the alt-protein market, emphasized the importance of good food policy and the need for America to be a leader in biotech in comments shared with FoodNavigator-USA and other news outlets.

"Good policy is good policy. What is good for the future of American consumers, farmers, national security, and business remains the same. We are here to keep amplifying how America can lead the world in building the agricultural innovations and bioeconomy of tomorrow, and to ensure consumers have the freedom to choose the food they eat,” said GFI CEO Ilya Sheyman. 

EWG: ‘Every polluter in America rejoices’

EWG President and Co-founder, Ken Cook, laid out what a Trump administration would mean for environmental issues, and suggested that the president-elect would conduct “a reinvigorated, concerted assault on environmental safeguards,” in a strongly worded blog post​.

EWG criticized the first Trump administration for reversing a ban on pesticides like chlorpyrifos and cutting funding for both FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency, as EWG recapped in a separate blog post​.

“Every polluter in America rejoices today in the election of Donald Trump. They are joined by elated polluters around the world. For every business whose profit depends on the toxic contamination of food, air, water and people with impunity, Trump’s victory is an occasion to celebrate,” Cook shared in a blog post.

CSPI: ‘The next four year won’t be easy.”

Similarly, CSPI President and Executive Director, Peter Lurie, expressed concern in a statement shared on the group's blog​ about what a second Trump term would mean for nutrition and health misinformation, raising particular concern for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s proposed involvement with the administration.  

"Trump alone is enough of a danger. But his alliance with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an unmistakable alarm bell. RFK is perhaps the most prominent spreader of health misinformation on the planet, second only to Trump himself," Lurie said in the blog post.

FMI, American Farm Bureau Federation, Retail Industry Leaders Association weigh-in

Additionally, other trade groups shared messages via their respective blogs or in statements on their website. These include:

• FMI – The Food Industry Association​​: FMI affirmed its commitment to working with the incoming Trump administration and advocates to “foster growth, reward innovation, and empower our industry to continue meeting the evolving needs of our customers,” President and CEO of FMI Leslie G. Sarasin shared in a press release.
• American Farm Bureau Federation​​: President of the American Farm Bureau, Zippy Duvall, congratulated the president-elect and advocated for a "new, modernized farm bill," calling the two-year delay on the farm bill "unacceptable," in a news release.
• Retail Industry Leaders Association​​: President of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, Brian Dodge, noted the role inflation played in the 2024 election, and requested that the "incoming Trump Administration and Congress take a strategic approach to international trade, with policies that shield families from higher prices on consumer goods."

FoodNavigator-USA also reached out to the National Confectioners Association, the American Beverage Association, the International Bottled Water Association, and The Association for Meat, Poultry and Seafood, and either received no comment, or they declined to comment by the time of publication.