Stricter Regulations For Harmful Chemicals On The Horizon
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation’s top health official, is taking steps to enhance regulation of chemicals in the U.S. food supply as part of his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. On March 10, Kennedy directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider implementing new rules to close a longstanding loophole that allows companies to add chemicals to food without undergoing government review. This loophole, known as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), permits companies to self-certify the safety of food additives without notifying the FDA, raising concerns about inadequate oversight.
Kennedy’s proposal would potentially require companies to report new food ingredients to the FDA and submit safety data for review. While this could strengthen food safety regulations, no specific timeline has been set, and the process could take years to complete. Some industry experts, like Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group, view this step as a long-overdue move that previous administrations failed to address.
Kennedy’s initiative was announced after a meeting with major food industry leaders, including representatives from Tyson Foods, General Mills, and Kraft Heinz. The food industry’s trade group, the Consumer Brands Association, called the move “constructive” and expressed willingness to collaborate with the FDA on ensuring consumer transparency and continued analysis of safe ingredients.
Additionally, Kennedy emphasized the need to remove synthetic food dyes, with a goal to achieve this before leaving office. However, former FDA commissioner Robert Califf cautioned that implementing Kennedy’s plan would require significant increases in staffing and funding for the FDA to properly assess the safety data of food ingredients.
Discussion about this post