RFK Jr. Orders FDA to Close Loophole on Food Ingredient Safety Oversight

The directive seeks to eliminate a rule allowing companies to self-affirm ingredient safety without notifying the FDA or the public.

• Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the FDA to revise rules that currently allow food companies to self-affirm the safety of ingredients without agency review.
• The proposed change would require manufacturers to notify the FDA and submit safety data for new food ingredients before they are introduced to the market.
• Kennedy emphasized the need for transparency to protect public health, citing concerns over the introduction of ingredients with unknown safety data into the U.S. food supply.
• The directive aligns with Kennedy's broader public health agenda, which focuses on addressing chronic disease and improving food safety standards.
• A timeline for the FDA's rulemaking process has not been set, and the acting FDA commissioner is expected to explore potential regulatory changes.

6 Articles

UPI Washington Examiner Fox News The Guardian Washington Post