The move targets a decades-old loophole that lets companies bypass regulatory review for new ingredients by declaring them ‘generally recognized as safe,’ or GRAS
The Trump administration has proposed a rule requiring food companies to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they add new ingredients to products.
The move targets a decades-old loophole that lets companies bypass regulatory review for new ingredients by declaring them “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS.
Food safety advocates have long criticized the practice, which allowed manufacturers to bring ingredients to market without formal FDA approval.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the changes would give regulators and consumers more information about chemicals entering the food supply.
Food safety experts welcomed the proposal but said it does not go far enough. Companies could still decide an ingredient is safe and use it before the FDA completes its review.
Experts also warned that limited FDA staffing could make stronger oversight difficult.