HHS and USDA Announce Landmark Food Policy Reforms, Including Mandatory GRAS Notification and Proposed Ultra-Processed Food Definition

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced two significant actions to modernize federal oversight of food ingredients and establish a stronger scientific foundation for nutrition policy. HHS proposed a rule requiring manufacturers to notify the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when they conclude a substance added to food is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Additionally, HHS and USDA submitted for final review the federal government's first proposed definition of ultra-processed foods (UPFs).