FDA proposes new food ingredient rule but skips defining ‘ultra-processed’

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a new rule requiring food manufacturers to notify them of ingredients used under the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) pathway. This move aims to close a regulatory loophole that allowed companies to introduce new ingredients without mandatory FDA review. While this change is considered significant for the food industry, the Trump administration has again delayed defining "ultra-processed foods," a promise made earlier this year. Experts question the long wait for this definition and the potential strain on FDA staff to review ingredient safety notifications. The FDA also plans to release new guidance on biological hazards in produce amidst ongoing foodborne illness outbreaks.

U.S. health officials have proposed a rule change requiring food manufacturers to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods. This proposal aims to close a long-standing information gap, allowing regulators to review safety findings and investigate potential risks, a departure from the current policy where companies self-certify ingredients as "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). The FDA also completed its first definition of ultraprocessed food, which is undergoing White House review. These initiatives are priorities for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who seeks to increase scrutiny of food additives and ingredients. The FDA will accept public comments on the proposed rule change for 120 days.