AUSTIN (KXAN) — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. delivered the keynote address at the Austin “Eat Real Food” rally, speaking about changes to nutrition in medical school education, military meals and baby formula regulation.

The event aimed to support the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative and the new U.S. Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines.

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr speaks at Austin Eat Real Food Rally.

United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr speaks at Austin Eat Real Food Rally.

“I want to thank Texas for leading the country in MAHA,” Kennedy Jr. said.

Kennedy said that as early as next week there will be an announcement alongside major medical schools to start “teaching 48 hours of nutrition.” He continued and said he spoke to test makers to have 15% of medical testing dedicated to nutrition.

KXAN reached out to the Department of Health and Human Services for clarification on what specific medical testing he was referring to. We will update the story once we hear back.

For military meals, Kennedy said celebrity chef Robert Irvine will be expanding his reach into military bases.

“He’s already in five bases. By the end of this month, he’ll be in 20 bases,” Kennedy said. “We’re going to do them all.”

Kennedy claimed that Irvine is reshaping the food for the military, such as reducing the daily cost of service member meals by using “locally sourced fresh food.”

His speech also referenced Operation Stork Speed – an initiative on baby formula for stricter regulation and testing by the FDA.

Before the rally, Kennedy posted on social media that he visited Terry Black’s Barbeque on Barton Springs Road to “EAT REAL FOOD.”

RFK Jr. visits Terry Black's Barbeque staff in Austin. (Via X/Twitter)

RFK Jr. visits Terry Black’s Barbeque staff in Austin. (Via X/Twitter)

He wrote in the post that it was his first stop on his national BBQ tour.

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