Secret Chemicals Added to US Food
An investigation reveals that chemicals of unknown safety are being added to the US food supply without FDA or public knowledge through regulatory loopholes. Meanwhile, British beef is entering the US market tariff-free amid severe domestic supply shortages, potentially affecting prices and availability in American stores and restaurants. The HHS Secretary also announced that nutrition education will become required for medical licensing.
The "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) rule, established in 1958, allows companies to bypass formal FDA approval for food additives if a consensus of scientific experts deems them safe. This was initially intended for common ingredients like vinegar and spices. However, a 1997 proposal, later finalized in 2016, created a voluntary notification system, permitting companies to self-determine an ingredient's GRAS status without informing the FDA. This self-affirmation process has been criticized for its lack of transparency and potential for conflicts of interest, as manufacturers can convene their own expert panels. Critics argue this "loophole" has been exploited, allowing new chemicals into the food supply without governmental oversight or public awareness of potential health risks. The Department of Health and Human Services has recently signaled a move to close this loophole, which could significantly alter the process for introducing new food ingredients. The arrival of tariff-free British beef comes after a more than 20-year ban following the BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) outbreak in the 1990s. The ban was lifted in March 2020, and the first shipments resumed later that year. This new agreement establishes a reciprocal 13,000-tonne tariff-free quota between the UK and the US. This influx of British beef coincides with a severe shortage in the U.S. domestic supply, with American cattle herds at a 75-year low. Factors like multi-year droughts and high feed costs have led ranchers to reduce their herds, contributing to record-high beef prices. The UK-US trade deal is projected to be worth up to £70 million (approximately $88.5 million) annually for British farmers if the quota is fully utilized. The new mandate for nutrition education in medical licensing aims to address a significant gap in physician training. Currently, a majority of U.S. medical schools provide less than the recommended 25 hours of nutrition education, with 75% having no required clinical nutrition classes. This initiative is part of the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda, which emphasizes disease prevention through improved diet. The change will be implemented by adding nutrition questions to medical licensing exams, compelling medical schools to incorporate the subject into their curricula. Studies have shown that even brief nutrition counseling from physicians can lead to beneficial changes in patients' diet, weight, and blood lipid levels.
