Mike Tyson Leads Campaign Against Processed Foods in Super Bowl Spot

2026-02-07 politics

Washington, Saturday, 7 February 2026.
Boxing icon Mike Tyson condemns processed foods in a Super Bowl ad, attributing his sister’s death to obesity while promoting the government’s controversial new dietary guidelines.

A Heavyweight Message on National Television

In a significant escalation of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) campaign, allies of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have secured airtime for a commercial during the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 8, 2026 [1]. The advertisement features boxing legend Mike Tyson, who delivers a stark warning against the processed food industry [1]. Tyson, partnering with the MAHA Center—a non-profit aligned with Secretary Kennedy—uses the 30-second spot to declare that “processed food kills” while urging viewers to “eat real food” [3][4]. The White House and Secretary Kennedy reposted the advertisement on social media on Friday, February 6, signaling executive endorsement of the campaign’s aggressive public relations strategy [7].

Personal Tragedy and Public Health

The commercial leverages Tyson’s personal history to illustrate the campaign’s broader health narrative. Tyson attributes the death of his sister at age 25 to obesity and a subsequent heart attack, framing the issue as a matter of life and death rather than mere diet [2][6]. In the ad, the former champion reflects on his own past struggles with weight, admitting he was once “fat and nasty” and would consume “a quart of ice cream every hour” [2]. Tyson characterizes the United States as the most powerful country in the world, yet paradoxically populated by the “most obese, fudgy people,” a sentiment he directs toward the camera while taking a bite of an apple [1][2].

Codifying New Dietary Standards

Beyond the celebrity endorsement, the advertisement serves as a funnel to RealFood.gov, a government website hosting the new Health and Human Services (HHS) nutrition guidelines released in January 2026 [1][2]. These directives represent a radical departure from previous federal advice, specifically denigrating processed foods while recommending the consumption of full-fat dairy products, steak, cheese, and beef tallow [1][2]. This policy shift aligns with Kennedy’s long-standing criticism of ultra-processed foods—such as frozen meals and salty snacks—which the administration links to chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease [2]. The food industry immediately reacted to the campaign, issuing criticisms of the advertisement on Friday, February 6, citing the unusual nature of the attack on manufactured food products [7].

Financing the MAHA Movement

The financial structure supporting this high-visibility campaign remains partially opaque. The ad was funded by the MAHA Center, an outside group led by Tony Lyons, who also heads the Kennedy-aligned MAHA PAC [1][7]. While the MAHA Center did not immediately disclose specific donors, Lyons stated in an interview that the group raised funds by reaching out to unnamed “billionaires” [1]. This fundraising strategy mirrors previous efforts; Lyons was instrumental in a 2024 Super Bowl advertisement for Kennedy’s presidential run, which was primarily funded by Nicole Shanahan, the wealthy attorney and former vice-presidential nominee [1]. The current campaign highlights elements of the MAHA movement that political strategists believe could bolster Republican support in the upcoming November midterms, particularly among parents concerned about food dyes and pesticides [1].

Sources

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