Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson on Monday expressed support for President Donald Trump’s new Make America Healthy Again Commission, which is focusing on reducing the use of ultra-processed foods in school nutrition programs.

Simpson said the initiative reflects a growing need to address the nutritional content of meals served to children nationwide. He added that if federal agencies encounter delays, he plans to pursue state-level action during Florida’s 2026 legislative session to define and regulate ultra-processed foods in schools.

“If bureaucratic games and barriers prevent federal action, we are prepared to take decisive measures here in Florida,” Simpson said in a statement. “Florida’s children deserve better than a diet of ultra-processed foods, and we will continue to prioritize Florida farmers’ fresh, nutritious products on school menus.”

A recent assessment from the Make America Healthy Again Commission reported that nearly 70 percent of calories consumed by American children come from ultra-processed foods, which it linked to rising rates of obesity and other chronic conditions.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, led by Simpson, administers the National School Lunch Program at the state level. The department oversees the distribution of millions of meals to students annually and has placed an increased emphasis on sourcing products from Florida farmers.

In the current state budget, nearly $40 million was allocated for the Farmers Feeding Florida initiative, which expands food-bank infrastructure and connects locally grown food products with food distribution programs across the state.

Simpson’s statement marked one of the first state-level responses to the federal commission’s efforts