In an effort to reform the food system, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to address a loophole that allows companies to self-certify the safety of new food and dietary supplement ingredients. Last year, Kennedy instructed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review and potentially revise the Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rule. This rule currently permits companies to bypass the traditional government notification and review process.
The GRAS designation was created for common food ingredients such as vinegar, flour, and standard spices, enabling them to skip safety reviews and be used widely across manufacturers. However, the ‘GRAS loophole’ has been exploited by companies that self-certify their ingredients as safe and optionally inform the FDA.
The FDA is anticipated to propose, as soon as Monday, mandatory notification of GRAS submissions for most substances. The proposed rule cleared the White House regulatory review last week. In March 2025, Kennedy emphasized the urgency of closing this loophole, which allows new ingredients potentially lacking safety data to enter the U.S. food supply undetected by both the FDA and the public.
The proposal marks a significant effort by the Trump administration to advance a food safety initiative promoted by Kennedy’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement into concrete regulatory measures. However, the proposal’s path to becoming final action will face many challenges, with strong opposition expected from the food industry.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mehmet Oz, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has urged senators not to support an amendment that would enact a federal ban on most hemp-derived products in November. In a recent letter, Oz expressed significant concerns about Senator Ted Budd’s amendment, which would remove a delay to the ban included in a government funding bill.
Elsewhere, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported an increase in emergency room visits related to cannabis hyperemesis syndrome (CHS), a condition linked to chronic marijuana use. Health officials in Michigan have revised guidance on lettuce consumption, following a reduction in cyclosporiasis cases, after previously advising against purchasing bagged salad mixes.
In other developments, Senate Republicans have rejected an amendment to the farm bill that would allow more lawsuits against pesticide companies, a setback for those critical of pesticide safety.
Ongoing healthcare developments from around the nation include new trials in Massachusetts for hospital-to-home initiatives and expected premium increases in ACA marketplaces in Missouri and Kansas.
This reform effort underscores the ongoing impacts of policy decisions on public health and the anticipated resistance from industries affected by regulatory changes.