FACT CHECK: Did RFK Jr. Announce He Will Ban Hershey’s Chocolate?
A post shared on social media purports Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced he will ban Hershey’s chocolate once President-elect Donald Trump is in office.
— Jack Straw (@JackStr42679640) December 8, 2024
Verdict: False
There is no evidence of Kennedy making this post.
Fact Check:
Several Nobel laureates have come out against Trump’s nomination of Kennedy as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HSS) due to his controversial views on certain issues pertaining to health, USA TODAY reported. 77 Nobel prize recipients published a letter in the New York Times requesting the Senate not to confirm Kennedy to the position as it would put the public in danger.
A post shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, purports Kennedy said he will ban Hershey’s chocolate in Jan. The post shows a screenshot of Kennedy’s alleged social media post making the announcement.
“BREAKING: Effective January 20th, Hershey’s Chocolate will be BANNED in the United States. Make America Healthy Again,” the alleged caption reads.
The claim is inaccurate. There is no credible news report that Kennedy posted this announcement. The date in the screenshot is Dec. 5, but there is no such post from Kennedy’s account on that date.
Kennedy has shared controversial views on things like raw milk’s bacteria and seed oils’ contribution to obesity, according to The Dispatch. After Kennedy was announced as Trump’s pick for Secretary of HHS, Moderna’s stock fell about 7% and Pfizer fell 4.5%, Reuters reported. Other companies’ whose stock prices were affected by the pick include Pepsi and Coca-Cola, according to the outlet. (RELATED: Has McDonald’s Offered RFK Jr. $850 Million In ‘Hush Money’?)
This is not the first time misinformation involving one of Trump’s picks has circulated online. Check Your Fact recently debunked a claim Elon Musk defended CEOs after Brian Thompson’s murder.
