United States Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has initiated discussions with major food industry leaders to address concerns about food additives in the American food supply.

According to CNN, Kennedy aims to eliminate the FDA's "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) program, which critics argue has allowed food manufacturers to introduce potentially harmful substances into food products without proper oversight.

The move comes after revelations that nearly 99% of new chemicals used in food or food packaging since 2000 were approved by the FDA and the food and chemical industry. This practice has raised significant concerns about transparency and public health implications, especially considering that ultraprocessed foods now make up more than half of the average American adult's caloric intake.

Food industry giants face regulatory overhaul

Kennedy met with executives from major food corporations, including Kraft Heinz, General Mills, Tyson Foods, Kellogg's, Smuckers, and Pepsi, to discuss potential solutions. The Consumer Brands Association, representing the food industry, described the meeting as "constructive" and expressed willingness to engage in further discussions.

The GRAS program, established by a 1958 amendment to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, was originally intended for common ingredients like garlic, oil, vinegar, and baking soda. However, in 1997, the FDA made the program voluntary due to resource constraints.

This change allowed manufacturers to declare substances as GRAS without providing safety data to the FDA, effectively creating a loophole that has been widely criticized by food safety advocates and public health experts.

State-level actions push federal reform

Several states have already taken independent action to address food safety concerns. California led the charge in October 2023 by banning four substances, including brominated vegetable oil (BVO), potassium bromate, propylparaben, and red dye No. 3, citing links to serious health issues.

The FDA's recent ban on red dye No. 3 came more than three decades after scientists discovered its potential carcinogenic effects in animals. The synthetic color additive, made from petroleum, was commonly used to give foods and beverages a bright cherry-red color.

Currently, 31 states are considering legislation to ban additional chemicals, including various food dyes, titanium dioxide, and azodicarbonamide, a dough conditioner also found in yoga mats.

Implementation challenges and industry response

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf emphasized that reforming the system would require significant resources and face opposition from powerful food industry lobbyists. He noted that conducting thorough research on long-term health effects of additives requires substantial expertise and funding.

Kennedy outlined his vision, stating to Fox News host Sean Hannity:

You should be able to exercise informed choice. You should know what that product is, what's in your food and what the health impacts are, and that's all we're going to do. We're going to incentivize people, to incentivize companies to be transparent, and we're going to inform Americans about what's making them sick.

Food industry representatives argue that the GRAS process plays a crucial role in innovation. Sarah Gallo of the Consumer Brands Association expressed readiness to collaborate with agency experts while maintaining the industry's ability to meet consumer demands.

Reforming food safety for future generations

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has embarked on a significant initiative to reform the FDA's food additive program, targeting the controversial GRAS system that has allowed food manufacturers to self-certify ingredient safety. The proposed changes would require companies to publicly notify the FDA and provide safety data before introducing new ingredients into the food supply, marking a dramatic shift from current practices that have raised concerns about transparency and public health.