Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Trump’s Health and Human Services secretary, has been outspoken about reshaping America’s diet, saying in a video that Trump has promised him “control of the public health agencies.”
“We’ve got to get off of seed oils and we’ve got to get off of pesticide-intense agriculture,” said Kennedy in the video.
Kennedy’s remarks are raising concern among agricultural experts, including Callie Eideberg, principal at the Vogel Group, who notes that about two-thirds of the U.S. soybean market goes into food, meaning any shift away from seed oils could hit Illinois farmers hard.
“We haven’t seen the federal government take any legal or regulatory steps to remove soybean oil or other seed oils from the food system,” Eideberg said. “That could change, but without a legal mandate, it’s unlikely many companies will voluntarily reformulate their products—it’s simply too costly. For now, the real impact on farmers’ bottom lines remains to be seen.”
Eideberg noted producers should start paying attention as food trends and policy debates converge.
Eideberg was asked whether Illinois soybean farmers might need to adapt their operations, or even switch to a different crop, to respond to changing consumer trends and potential regulatory pressures.
“I know there are folks at the Illinois Soybean Association and across the country who are always thinking about new market development,” Eideberg said. “Whether that’s finding a place to sell soybeans overseas for animal feed or human consumption, or creating innovative products, experts are figuring that out every day. Soy is everywhere – even in car seats – but there’s still a lot more that can be done to expand alternative uses beyond the consumer market.”
For now, she said trade policy remains the bigger problem. Eideberg said the “lack of markets overseas” tied to ongoing trade wars is having “the biggest impact right now on the bottom line for soybean producers.”
Illinois recently banned certain food dyes, a MAHA-related move. Eideberg warns that if states target soybean oil next, it could create a patchwork of rules that would be challenging for both farmers and food producers.
“Individual states are making these MAHA-related decisions on their own,” she said. “When the federal government tried to remove certain food dyes from our system, it wasn’t a legal mandate, it was more of a strong-arm effort by Secretary Kennedy. Companies complied because those products weren’t widely used. Soybean oil is very different; it’s in nearly everything consumers buy, so removing it would be a massive, costly undertaking.”
The bigger issue, Eideberg said, is what happens when individual states start passing their own MAHA-related laws.
“That becomes a nightmare for companies who are trying to sell their products in all 50 states but potentially need 50 different formulations for those products,” she said.
To counter this, a coalition of food companies in Washington D.C. has formed to push for federal preemption, where the federal government asserts sole authority over food regulation, preventing states from setting conflicting rules.
“There’s a lot of money behind this effort,” Eideberg said. “It’s just getting started, and it’s going to take a little while. But this could be a way to make federal law the standard, so states no longer have the authority to act independently.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.