Trump Officials Propose New Scrutiny of Food Additives and Ingredients

U.S. Health officials on Monday proposed requiring food manufacturers to notify federal regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods.

The proposal would alter a longstanding policy that consumer advocates have characterized as a regulatory loophole, citing it as a reason thousands of ingredients have entered the U.S. Food supply without adequate vetting.

Under the Food and Drug Administration's proposed rule, companies would need to document and submit safety findings for new ingredients, allowing regulators to assess potential risks. At present, manufacturers can determine on their own whether an ingredient or additive is "generally recognized as safe," With no requirement to notify the FDA or provide evidence, though some companies do so voluntarily.

"Shifting to a mandatory notification system closes a decades-old information gap, giving the FDA the comprehensive visibility needed to enhance postmarket safety," Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said.

The FDA will accept comments on the proposal for 120 days. Consumer advocates, including Melanie Benesh of the Environmental Working Group, said the proposal should go further, requiring "strong, science-based safety standards and thorough, independent FDA review before chemicals are allowed in our food."

In a separate development, the FDA said it completed work on the federal government's first-ever definition of ultraprocessed food but has not disclosed details. The agency submitted the definition to the White House for additional review. Health advocates view such an official definition as essential to increasing scrutiny of packaged foods linked to chronic health issues.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Called both initiatives priorities for his administration. "These two actions will change how the federal government oversees what's in our food and how we understand the foods that Americans eat," Kennedy said.

Ultraprocessed foods contain industrial processing and additives, colors, preservatives or other ingredients absent from home kitchens, such as sugary cereals, sodas, chips and frozen pizzas.

The FDA noted the new policy would not require all new ingredients to undergo FDA review; mandatory review would require congressional action. Under the proposal, the FDA would review submissions within 180 days and could request additional information or delay introduction if safety concerns arise.

An estimated 10,000 additives are currently allowed in U.S. Food. Since 1997, the FDA has permitted companies to independently determine whether new additives are safe based on scientific evidence and expert consensus. This approach has enabled numerous synthetic and natural additives to enter food without independent review, according to consumer groups describing it as a "secret GRAS loophole."

Kennedy said the Trump administration would ask Congress to grant the FDA additional authority over food ingredients to address the evolving food supply.