The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a rule change that would require food manufacturers to notify regulators before introducing new ingredients or additives into processed or packaged foods. This proposal aims to close a decades-old regulatory loophole that has allowed thousands of unvetted ingredients into the U.S. food supply.

Background

Currently, companies can decide for themselves if an ingredient or additive is “generally recognized as safe” without notifying the FDA. However, the proposed rule would change this by requiring companies to document and submit their safety findings for new ingredients, giving regulators the opportunity to investigate potential safety risks.

Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas stated that the new policy would not require all new ingredients to undergo FDA review, but rather would provide the FDA with greater visibility into the safety conclusions made by companies. The FDA will take comments on the proposal for 120 days.

Ultraprocessed Foods

In a separate move, the FDA has completed work on the federal government’s first-ever definition of ultraprocessed food, although the definition has not been released. Health advocates consider an official definition of ultraprocessed food a key step toward bringing greater scrutiny to packaged foods that are blamed for multiple chronic health problems afflicting Americans.

Ultraprocessed foods are made using industrial processing and additives, colors, preservatives, or other ingredients not found in home kitchens. These foods include sugary cereals, sodas, chips, frozen pizzas, and other grocery items. Scientists have been working to define and classify processed foods for over a decade, but sweeping definitions can be problematic, as they may be applied to foods like whole grain bread, yogurt, and granola that are highly processed but still considered nutritious.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.