HHS Moves to Close Food Safety Loophole—But Is It Enough?

In a significant move toward tightening food safety regulations, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has directed the FDA to explore rulemaking that would eliminate the self-affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) pathway&mdash;a long-standing loophole allowing companies to introduce new food ingredients without notifying the FDA or the public.
If enacted, this policy shift would force companies to publicly disclose their ingredients and provide supporting safety data before they enter the U.S. food supply. Kennedy, citing concerns over unregulated chemicals and unknown safety risks, framed the move as part of his broader initiative to &ldquo;Make America Healthy Again.&rdquo;