HHS announced a proposed rule this week that would require manufacturers to notify FDA when they determine a substance added to human or animal food is “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS, replacing the current system where that determination can happen without FDA’s knowledge. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long called for “closing the GRAS loophole” as part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda. Kennedy also announced that HHS and USDA have submitted a white paper to define ultra-processed foods to the White House for review, although the path forward remains unclear.
For dairy, both actions are worth tracking as they move forward. On GRAS, our focus is making sure the new notification requirement doesn’t create unnecessary red tape for ingredients our members already use safely. We also remain focused on ensuring that nutrient-dense dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are not captured under an ultra-processed foods definition. We’ll keep engaging with FDA and USDA as these proposals take their next steps.
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