The photo posted on X in March by the Department of Health and Human Services seemed innocuous.
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stands in the center, surrounded by Robert Ford, chief executive of Abbott Laboratories; Kris Licht, the chief executive of Reckitt; Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, chief executive of Perrigo; and Laura Modi, the founder and chief executive of Bobbie. The post was paired with an announcement that H.H.S. would work with these leaders to update the country’s nutrition guidelines for infant formula, which have remained unchanged since 1998.
But that photo set off an animated debate among fans of Bobbie, which has made its name over the last several years as an ingredient-conscious and science-based brand.
Some cheered on Ms. Modi for being the only woman there and the only one representing a newcomer to an industry dominated by old gatekeepers. When Bobbie shared the photo on its Instagram page, many of its followers threw fire and heart emojis all over its comments.
Others wondered if she should have been there at all, meeting with Mr. Kennedy, who they say is antithetical to everything they thought the Bobbie brand stood for.
That the other chief executives in the photo didn’t receive this kind of scrutiny illustrates the difficulty of being a business leader who has been vocal about their company’s purpose during the current administration, when every decision about a company’s values can become politically charged.