RFK Jr’s food crackdown: US FDA proposes stricter food additive rules — What changes for packaged food and consumers?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed stricter rules for introducing new ingredients and additives into processed and packaged foods. Currently, companies can determine an ingredient is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) based on scientific evidence and expert consensus, without needing to notify the FDA.

Under the proposed rule, manufacturers would be required to:

1. Notify the FDA before introducing a new ingredient.

2. Submit the scientific basis for their conclusion that the ingredient is safe.

This mandatory notification system aims to give the FDA greater visibility into ingredients entering the food supply, addressing a long-standing information gap. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas explained that this would allow the FDA to enhance postmarket safety.

However, the FDA would not automatically review or approve every new food ingredient. If regulators identify concerns, they could seek additional information from manufacturers or ask them to delay introducing the ingredient. The FDA plans to review new ingredient submissions within 180 days.

The proposal centers on the GRAS exemption, which has allowed thousands of ingredients to enter the US food supply without independent FDA assessment. Consumer and public-health groups have criticized this system, arguing that it does not provide sufficient oversight.

The FDA also plans to define "ultraprocessed food" for the first time, although the agency has not yet released the proposed definition. The definition could influence research, dietary guidance, and potential policies such as warning labels or restrictions on highly processed packaged foods.