health
FDA Proposes New Food Ingredient Rule but Skips Defining ‘Ultra-Processed’
Move closes loophole but doesn’t include definition of ultra-processed foods, promised earlier this year
TL;DR
- The FDA is proposing a rule to make the Generally Recognized As Safe (Gras) framework a mandatory notification system for food ingredients.
- This change aims to close a loophole that allowed companies to introduce ingredients without formal FDA review.
- The administration has postponed defining 'ultra-processed foods', a definition previously promised.
- Experts question the FDA's authority to mandate this notification system and the adequacy of company self-regulation for ingredient safety.
- The proposed rule comes as the US faces large foodborne illness outbreaks, including cyclosporiasis and salmonella.