RFK Jr Targets Ultra-Processed Foods

- The "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) designation originated with the 1958 Food Additives Amendment, which exempted substances from pre-market approval if they were deemed safe by experts based on scientific evidence or a history of common use in food prior to 1958. - Companies can self-affirm an ingredient's GRAS status without notifying the FDA, a process that has drawn criticism for potential conflicts of interest. Alternatively, they can voluntarily submit a GRAS notification to the FDA for review. - The citizen petition was spearheaded by Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA Commissioner who also led anti-tobacco campaigns in the 1990s. He argues the science that allowed processed refined carbohydrates to be considered GRAS a half-century ago is no longer supported. - Specific ingredients targeted by the petition include refined sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup, refined flours and starches used with extrusion technology, and additives such as certain emulsifiers, dough conditioners, and stabilizers. - Ultra-processed foods now account for nearly 60% of calorie consumption for adults in the U.S. and close to 70% for children. - A 2024 review of 45 meta-analyses covering nearly 10 million people found that a diet high in ultra-processed foods increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 50% and the risk of anxiety by 48%. Other studies have linked high consumption to increased risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and all-cause mortality. - If the FDA agrees with the petition, the targeted ingredients would no longer be considered GRAS, and foods containing them could be deemed adulterated and illegal to sell without undergoing the more rigorous Food Additive Petition process. - Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy has stated that while the FDA will act on the petition, it does not automatically mean new regulations or bans will be imposed, emphasizing a goal of consumer understanding.