Brooke Rollins, US Agriculture Secretary, said a meal of "a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, a corn tortilla and one other thing" could cost about $3 and meet updated federal dietary guidance. Critics — including congressional Democrats and public figures — called the remark out of touch as December CPI data showed food prices rose 0.7% month-to-month. Video clips and social posts amplified the backlash, prompting comparisons to Marie Antoinette and renewed debate about the affordability of federal nutrition recommendations.
‘A Piece of Chicken, A Piece of Broccoli’: Agriculture Secretary Draws Backlash After $3 Meal Claim
The US agriculture secretary, Brooke Rollins, speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on Wednesday.Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins drew sharp criticism after saying Americans could both save money and follow updated federal dietary guidance by eating what she described as a roughly "$3" meal: "a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, a corn tortilla and one other thing." The comment came during a NewsNation interview about whether average households can afford to change their diets to match the White House's revised food recommendations.
Details From the Interview
Host Connell McShane asked how rising grocery costs factor into the new guidance, referencing recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data that showed persistent grocery inflation. Rollins responded that officials had examined affordability and that the proposed guidance would not require people "living on the margins" to spend more.
"We've run over 1,000 simulations," Rollins said. "It can cost around $3 a meal for a piece of chicken, a piece of broccoli, you know, a corn tortilla and one other thing. So there is a way to do this that actually will save the average American consumer money."
She also asserted that grocery prices were coming down, calling recent year-end increases a temporary "blip" due to holiday spending and listing items she said were trending lower, including eggs, chicken, pork, milk and broccoli.
Data And Context
That characterization conflicted with the CPI figures cited in the interview. In December food prices rose 0.7% month-to-month — the largest monthly increase since October 2022 — with produce up 0.5%, coffee up 1.9%, and beef up 1% month-to-month and 16.4% year-on-year. Rising grocery costs have been a persistent concern for many American households.
Reactions And Political Fallout
Video clips of Rollins's remarks spread quickly online. Democrats and other critics seized on the $3 meal example as evidence that the administration is out of touch with struggling families. The House Ways and Means Committee Democrats posted an AI-generated image of a divided cafeteria tray showing a tiny piece of chicken, a lone broccoli floret, a small corn tortilla and a foil-wrapped "mystery item."
Lawmakers and public figures reacted sharply. Representative Ted Lieu mocked the suggestion, Representative Jason Crow posted a staged version of the plate while criticizing administration priorities, and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse questioned whether the example reflected responsibility for rising costs. Senator Ed Markey and Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal described the comment as tone-deaf to families facing high grocery bills.
Public figures and commentators also compared the episode to the long-circulated Marie Antoinette anecdote "Let them eat cake," using the comparison to underscore perceived elite indifference. The exchange revived earlier debates over administration spending priorities and public displays of wealth.
Why It Matters
The episode highlights a broader policy and political tension: whether updated federal dietary guidance is realistic and affordable for families amid ongoing food-price pressure. It also underscores the political risks of offering simplified examples of affordability during a period of visible grocery inflation.
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