A proposed rule seeks to close a decades-old information gap through a mandatory notification program.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a proposed rule to end food manufacturers’ practice of making “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) determinations without notifying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy announced Aug. 10.
The rule seeks to close a decades-old information gap, transitioning from a voluntary to a mandatory notification program. It will require any person introducing GRAS additives into the food supply to notify the FDA.
“It would give FDA greater visibility into the substances used in human and animal food, enabling us to more efficiently, knowledgeably, and timely regulate the safety of our nation’s food supply,” FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture also submitted for final review the federal government’s first definition of ultra-processed foods, Kennedy said.
“These two actions will change how the federal government oversees what’s in our food and how we understand the foods that Americans eat,” he added.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
By Sylvia Xu
