Healey Takes Aim at RFK Jr. Over Dunkin’ Comments

At State Senator Nick Collins' 2026 St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in Boston, Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll used the event to respond to critiques from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about Dunkin' and food safety claims.

Kennedy has championed a “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, pushing the FDA to review self-certification of food additives. “We're going to ask Dunkin' and Starbucks, ‘Show us the safety data demonstrating that it's OK for a teenage girl to drink an iced coffee with 115 grams of sugar in it,'” Kennedy said during a press conference last month. “I don't think they're going to be able to do it.”

Kennedy has reportedly directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to study whether companies should be permitted to self-certify the safety of food additives used in their products. It's not clear whether Kennedy aims to restrict specific beverages at chains like Dunkin.'

At the breakfast held on Sunday, March 15, Healey directly roasted Kennedy. She included a joke with a Dunkin' cup and a satirical branding for her campaign for the upcoming election.

“There's been a lot of talk about Dunkin' Donuts lately, RFK. What do we think, picking on our Dunks?” said Healey at the breakfast, attracting jeers from the crowd, Boston 25 News reported.

“We know RFK really cares about the ingredients, so this particular Brainworm Cold Brew includes whole milk, ivermectin, and no shots,” Driscoll said as a tongue-in-cheek joke.

“And hopefully that's enough to send a message to stay away from our marshmallow fluff,” Healey commented.

As a long-standing Boston tradition, the annual breakfast features a sing-along, stand-up comedy, and a political roast. According to Boston 25 News, this year's event also celebrated Boston sports and local pride, noting achievements like women's hockey winning Olympic gold and offering support for the MBTA. It also featured some humor about the Patriots' season and Jayson Tatum's return to the Celtics after his injury.