The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has put forward a new policy proposal aimed at enhancing oversight of food ingredients by requiring companies to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they determine an ingredient is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). This change would move away from the current voluntary notification system and increase FDA's awareness of ingredients entering the food supply. Acting FDA commissioner Kyle Diamantas highlighted the focus on scrutinizing ingredients considered problematic by consumers and other countries as part of a broader effort to improve transparency and safety.

In tandem with the GRAS notification proposal, HHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also submitted the government’s first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods for final review. This effort responds to mounting concerns about the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods, which make up nearly 60% of the American diet and are linked to childhood obesity and chronic disease. The move aligns with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" initiative, which seeks to transform the nation’s food system to combat these health crises.

These regulatory updates come amid ongoing food safety challenges, including several multistate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses such as cyclospora, salmonella, and listeria. While the announcements do not directly address the immediate causes of these outbreaks, they tackle broader criticisms of ingredient safety standards. The proposed GRAS reforms stop short of implementing mandatory premarket approval but aim to give the FDA greater insight into the number and nature of ingredients used in foods, potentially informing future policies on ultra-processed products.

Industry reaction has been mixed, with groups like the Consumer Brands Association warning that the proposed ultra-processed foods definition could unfairly target a large portion of the food supply. Similarly, the Consumer Healthcare Products Association cautioned against changes to GRAS that might impact dietary supplements and over-the-counter medicines. The GRAS notification rule is currently open for public comment and will undergo the federal rulemaking process before any new requirements take effect, signaling a significant but measured step toward increased food ingredient oversight.