FDA Moves to Address Longstanding Issues With Food Additives

WHO:

CNN - US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is involved in advocating for food reform.

CNN - Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas announced the proposed rule.

CBS News - Dr. David Kessler, former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is a key figure in the discussion about ultraprocessed foods.

CBS News - The Consumer Brands Association represents the food industry.

WHAT:

CNN - The FDA proposed a rule requiring food manufacturers to notify the agency when using ingredients that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS).

CNN - The proposed rule aims to shift the GRAS standard from voluntary to mandatory.

CBS News - Ultraprocessed foods make up 50% of American calories and 60% of children's diets.

CBS News - At least 111 substances of unknown safety have been added to foods in the U.S. without FDA notification.

WHERE:

CNN - The proposed rule and discussions are taking place within the United States.

WHEN:

CBS News - The GRAS exemption was enacted by Congress in 1958.

CBS News - A lawsuit was filed in December against 10 manufacturers of ultraprocessed foods.

WHY:

CNN - The proposed rule is part of efforts to crack down on ultraprocessed foods and promote healthier diets.

CBS News - Concerns about the health impact of ultraprocessed foods have led to calls for reform, as they are linked to chronic diseases.

HOW:

CNN - The FDA is working with Congress on legislative options to further address the GRAS process and nutrition reform.

CBS News - Kessler is petitioning to revoke GRAS status for certain processed refined carbohydrates unless companies can prove their safety.

(UPDATED August 10, 2026 16:17 UTC)

The FDA has proposed a new rule that would require food manufacturers to notify the agency when using ingredients that are generally recognized as safe, or GRAS, shifting the standard from voluntary to mandatory. This initiative, supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler, aims to address the health concerns surrounding ultraprocessed foods, which account for half of American calories and a staggering sixty percent of children's diets. As part of this effort, Kessler is advocating for the revocation of GRAS status for certain processed refined carbohydrates unless companies can provide evidence of their safety.