Federal Agencies Propose Major Overhaul of Food‑Ingredient Oversight

August 10, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC  —  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday announced two major food‑policy reforms aimed at increasing transparency around food ingredients and strengthening the scientific basis for national nutrition guidelines.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a rule requiring food manufacturers to notify the U.S. Food and Drug Administration whenever they determine a substance is “Generally Recognized as Safe,” replacing decades of voluntary participation in the GRAS process. Officials said mandatory notifications would give regulators clearer visibility into substances entering the food supply and expand the public inventory of GRAS notices. A streamlined pathway is planned for substances already on the market.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture also submitted for final review the federal government’s first proposed definition of ultra‑processed foods, intended to improve consistency in nutrition research and future policy development.

Impact on North Carolina and South Carolina

For readers in North Carolina and South Carolina, the reforms mean clearer federal oversight of ingredients used in many packaged foods sold throughout the region. Mandatory notifications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would give regulators better insight into substances used in products commonly found in Carolinas grocery stores, including items produced by local poultry, pork, and food‑processing operations.

The proposed definition of ultra‑processed foods may also guide future nutrition messaging used by schools and public‑health agencies in both states, where diet‑related chronic diseases remain above national averages.

Federal officials said both actions advance President Trump’s Make America Healthy Again agenda and encouraged Congress to consider additional legislation to strengthen food‑safety protections.

Disclaimer: This article is based on information provided in an official release issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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