The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced two major food policy initiatives Monday aimed at increasing transparency around food ingredients and establishing a clearer scientific framework for studying ultra-processed foods.
The actions are part of the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda and involve proposed changes to how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees ingredients considered “Generally Recognized as Safe,” or GRAS, as well as a proposed federal definition of ultra-processed foods.
FDA Proposes Mandatory GRAS Notifications
Under the FDA proposal, food manufacturers would be required to notify the agency when they determine that a substance added to human or animal food qualifies as GRAS.
The GRAS exemption was established by Congress in 1958. While the FDA has operated a voluntary notification system, manufacturers have not been required to notify the agency when making their own GRAS determinations.
HHS said the proposed rule would give the FDA greater visibility into substances entering the food supply while expanding the public inventory of GRAS notices.
The proposal would also establish a temporary streamlined process for manufacturers to submit information about substances already being marketed based on industry GRAS determinations. According to HHS, the process would allow the FDA to prioritize safety evaluations while limiting unnecessary regulatory burdens.
“Americans deserve confidence that the ingredients in their food are subject to transparent, science-based oversight,” Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said in a news release.
Government Advances Definition of Ultra-Processed Foods
HHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have also submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
The agencies said the lack of a standardized federal definition has made it more difficult to consistently study UPFs and their potential health effects.
The proposed definition incorporates feedback from thousands of stakeholders, including researchers, consumer organizations, industry representatives and members of the public.
HHS said the effort is intended to strengthen the scientific foundation for future federal nutrition policy.
The announcement comes as federal health officials focus increasingly on the role of highly processed foods in the American diet. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. cited government estimates that nearly 60% of the American diet consists of ultra-processed foods and that childhood obesity affects more than one in five American children.
“We cannot reverse America’s chronic disease epidemic without transforming our food system,” Kennedy said.
Part of Broader MAHA Strategy
The two initiatives build on the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again Strategy Report, according to HHS.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the administration is also focusing on farmers and ranchers as part of its effort to promote what it describes as healthier food choices.
The proposed changes do not immediately establish new requirements for all food manufacturers. The GRAS measure is a proposed rule, while the UPF definition remains under federal review.
HHS said it is also encouraging Congress to consider legislation that would further strengthen oversight of the nation’s food supply.
Together, the initiatives signal a broader effort by federal health officials to increase transparency around food ingredients and create more consistent scientific standards for evaluating the role of processed foods in nutrition and public health.
Provided by Dallas Express
