A regulatory detail deep within the thicket of FDA rules is getting sharp attention. This week, HHS Secretary RFK Jr. asked FDA to find a way to restrict something called GRAS. That stands for generally recognized as safe. Right now, a food company can “self certify” that a chemical food additive is GRAS. Then they can put it in our food supply without asking permission or even telling food regulators at FDA.

Kennedy explained that he wants to put an end to this:

“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. Eliminating this loophole will provide transparency to consumers, help get our nation’s food supply back on track by ensuring that ingredients being introduced into foods are safe, and ultimately Make America Healthy Again.”

A Jolt for Big Food

No doubt, this is a jolt for the food industry. Because of GRAS, it is uniquely easy to add chemicals into the U.S. food supply without the nuisance of trying to prove to a regulator that they’re safe. But the industry is cautious in public comments. Speaking for the Consumer Brands Association, an industry lobbying organization, Sarah Gallo said:

“FDA’s generally recognized as safe process plays an important role in enabling companies to innovate to meet consumer demand. As the administration looks to revise GRAS, we stand ready to work with agency experts on continued analysis of safe ingredients and increase consumer transparency.”

Translated from lobby-speak, that means they don’t like this change.

A Jarring Contrast

This move won praise from some progressive food policy advocates. Peter Lurie, President of CSPI and an FDA official for the Obama administration, said “It’s certainly a promising development.”

But it’s jarring to hear the same administration in the same week move to restrict GRAS while it brags about loosening restrictions on toxic chemical pollution in our air and water. This is a odd mix of policies and we will be watching to see what actually happens.

Click here, here, and here for more on this development.

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