Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced a plan to close a decades-old loophole that has allowed food companies to add certain chemicals to products without notifying federal regulators.
| PULSE POINTS |
❓ WHAT HAPPENED: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a proposed rule on Monday that would require food companies to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they determine a substance is “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) and provide the scientific basis for that conclusion, ending decades of self-certification with little oversight. 📺 DETAIL: Under the current system, companies can add ingredients such as preservatives, emulsifiers, and low-calorie sweeteners to ultra-processed foods without informing the FDA. The new proposal mandates notification and would give the agency 45 days for an initial review and 180 days for a more substantive one. Companies would still be allowed to use the substances while the process is underway. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas said the change closes a long-standing information gap and improves transparency. Kennedy framed the move as part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. Food safety advocates welcomed the step while calling for even stronger independent review and safety standards. 💬 KEY QUOTE: “Industry hijacked the loophole and drove a convoy of chemical trucks through it straight into the American food supply.” – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 🎯 IMPACT: The proposal targets a system that has allowed hundreds of ingredients into the food supply with minimal federal scrutiny, particularly in ultra-processed products that make up more than half of the average American diet. Supporters see it as a long-overdue transparency measure. 📺 FLASHBACK: The GRAS exception has existed since 1958, originally intended for common items like vinegar and flour. Over time, industry use expanded dramatically. Kennedy had signaled early in his tenure that the FDA would explore rulemaking to close the loophole, and the White House budget office completed its review of the proposal in late July. |
BREAKING 🚨 @SecKennedy makes two major announcements:
1⃣ "We're proposing a rule that would end the practice of companies making GRAS determinations without notifying the FDA."
2⃣ "Alongside my friend and colleague, Agricultural @SecRollins, we submitted for final review the… pic.twitter.com/RUwQhJmREX
— HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) August 10, 2026
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