U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise current safety regulations concerning food ingredients. This move aims to eliminate the “self-affirm” rule, which allows companies to independently declare the safety of food ingredients without FDA notification.
Kennedy’s directive, announced on Monday, seeks to improve transparency for consumers and strengthen the FDA’s oversight of food ingredients. He expressed concerns that the existing provision has allowed food manufacturers to bypass FDA review, potentially introducing new ingredients and chemicals into the U.S. food supply without adequate safety data.
“For far too long, ingredient manufacturers and sponsors have exploited a loophole that has allowed new ingredients and chemicals, often with unknown safety data, to be introduced into the U.S. food supply without notification to the FDA or the public,” Kennedy said in a statement.
Kennedy, who has advocated for addressing chronic illnesses with the support of former President Donald Trump, has proposed a broad agenda that includes promoting healthier food options and reviewing vaccine safety. However, his proposals may face challenges due to potential government spending cuts.
Under current FDA guidelines, manufacturers are encouraged to submit notices for substances deemed “generally recognized as safe,” but they can also self-affirm a substance’s safety without notifying the agency. Kennedy’s proposal would eliminate this self-affirmation pathway, requiring companies to notify the FDA and submit supporting safety data before introducing new ingredients into food products.
The FDA maintains a public database where all notices, supporting data, and response letters are available for public review.
Major food companies, including PepsiCo, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Hershey, Mondelez, and Kellanova, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Earlier this year, the FDA began restructuring its food division to enhance oversight of food and agricultural products under the leadership of former Commissioner Robert Califf. In January, the agency also proposed requiring food companies to display nutrition labels on the front of packaging.
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