Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly criticized CNN host Erin Burnett, accusing her of abandoning "common sense and basic arithmetic" after a report on her show suggested a budget-friendly meal recipe he shared costs significantly more than advertised.
Kennedy, who recently launched a YouTube cooking show titled "The Real Food" aimed at promoting affordable, healthy recipes, stated his wild Alaskan salmon cakes and side salad recipe costs $19.64 to feed a family of four. However, CNN journalist Tom Foreman reported that when he attempted to recreate the dish using the cheapest available ingredients at a major grocery chain, the total cost exceeded $70.
In a post on X, Kennedy explained that his show uses "standard recipe costing," which calculates the cost based on the portion of ingredients used, not the full price of the entire package. He argued that charging for an entire bottle of mayonnaise when only a small amount is used, for example, would be akin to a restaurant charging for a full bottle of ketchup for a single squirt.
Foreman's report highlighted specific discrepancies, noting that while Kennedy's show priced 1.5 pounds of wild-caught Alaskan salmon at $8.99, the cheapest comparable salmon Foreman found cost over $24. Similarly, a red onion, priced at 8 cents in the recipe due to its small required quantity, would cost at least a dollar if purchased whole. Avocado mayonnaise, listed at 40 cents for the amount used in the recipe, cost $11.19 for a full bottle according to CNN.
"CNN wants us to incorporate the full package price of every ingredient, regardless of what is used in the recipe," Kennedy wrote. He asserted that the aim of "The Real Food" is to help Americans cook healthy meals affordably and stock their kitchens with versatile, high-quality ingredients.
Foreman, who recreated the recipe, stated in the CNN segment that grocery stores do not sell ingredients in the fractional amounts used in recipe costing, making Kennedy's $20 claim difficult for many consumers to reconcile with their shopping experiences. He did, however, confirm the salmon cakes were tasty and appeared healthy.