Health Secretary Calls for Stricter Food Safety Regulations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday a directive for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise safety rules concerning food ingredients, aiming to enhance transparency and accountability in the food supply chain.

Kennedy’s directive comes amid rising concerns over the introduction of new food ingredients that may not have been thoroughly vetted for safety. “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,” he stated in a press release.

Currently, manufacturers are encouraged to submit notices under the FDA rule known as “substances generally recognized as safe.” However, they can self-affirm that their ingredients are safe without formal notification to the FDA. Kennedy’s proposed revisions would require companies to publicly notify the FDA when introducing new food ingredients and to provide associated safety data.

This move signals a shift towards greater regulatory oversight, which Kennedy believes is necessary to combat what he describes as an epidemic of chronic illnesses linked to food safety issues. He emphasized that ensuring the safety of food ingredients is paramount for public health and consumer protection.

The FDA maintains a public inventory of notices and supporting data submitted by manufacturers, which could become more reliable with Kennedy’s proposed changes. If implemented, the new requirements could lead to a more transparent and accountable food supply.

PepsiCo, General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Hershey, Mondelez, and Kellanova were contacted for comments on this directive but had not responded at the time of this report.

This initiative also follows recent FDA efforts to restructure its food division, aimed at improving regulatory oversight of food supply and agricultural products. Earlier this year, the agency proposed new regulations mandating that food companies display nutrition labels prominently on the front of product packaging.