Did you know that nearly all new chemicals in your food haven’t actually been approved by the FDA? Instead, the food industry has been approving its own additives for decades. If that sounds shocking, it should.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, is pushing to shut down a long-standing FDA program called GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe)—a loophole that critics say has allowed food companies to introduce potentially unsafe additives without any real government oversight.
And if you’ve ever wondered why so many processed foods seem to be linked to health issues, this could be a big part of the problem.
What’s the Issue With GRAS?
The GRAS program was originally created in 1958 to approve common food ingredients like salt, vinegar, and baking soda—things that are obviously safe. But over time, the system got hijacked. In 1997, the FDA made the program voluntary, meaning food companies could decide for themselves whether an ingredient was safe—without needing to submit proof to the FDA.
The result? Since 2000, nearly 99% of new food chemicals have been approved by the industry itself rather than going through FDA testing. During that time, food manufacturers only officially asked for FDA approval 10 times.
This means that hundreds of additives—some of which have later been found to be harmful—have made their way into our food without us knowing.
Why Does This Matter?
Ultra-processed foods dominate the American diet. More than half of the calories the average American eats come from these foods. They’re also linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer.
Some harmful additives took decades to ban. Take brominated vegetable oil (BVO)—a chemical used in sodas and sports drinks. Scientists flagged it as unsafe back in the 1970s, but the FDA didn’t officially ban it until 2024.
States are taking action because the FDA isn’t. California recently banned four additives—including red dye No. 3, which was linked to cancer 30 years ago. Meanwhile, 31 states are pushing to ban other untested food chemicals.
RFK Jr. Wants to Change That—But Can He?
Kennedy is calling for more transparency and stricter regulations so that every new food additive has to go through the FDA before ending up in our food. He’s already met with major food companies like Kraft Heinz, General Mills, and Pepsi to discuss a solution.
But here’s the problem:
- Big Food has spent years lobbying against change. The food industry has fought previous attempts to close the GRAS loophole—and they’re not likely to back down now.
- The FDA lacks resources. Experts say that even if the rules change, the FDA doesn’t have enough funding or food safety experts to keep up with testing all the chemicals already in the food supply.
- Reform could raise food prices. If companies suddenly have to test their ingredients, they might pass those costs onto consumers.
What Happens Next?
If Kennedy succeeds, it could mean the biggest food safety reform in decades. If he fails, we’re stuck relying on food manufacturers to police themselves—a system that’s already let harmful chemicals slip through for years.
So, do you think it’s time to shut down this loophole? Or will the food industry block the changes once again?
