Federally defining UPFs could allow U.S. regulatory agencies to pursue specific policies for the category. The importance of processing versus nutrient content and formulation in causing diet-related chronic diseases, as well as the value of defining UPFs, has been heavily debated.
The Memorandum of Understanding expands interagency collaboration on food contaminant monitoring, including for toxic heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), under the National Residue Program.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced several appointments to his immediate management team at HHS, including FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Kyle Diamantas, reportedly to help advance food-related MAHA agenda items.
In a recent 60 Minutes interview, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said FDA will address the “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) “loophole,” which allows ingredients into the food supply without FDA review, while saying he does not plan to regulate ultra-processed foods.
New data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shows the most recent and complete picture of workforce attrition at federal agencies responsible for food safety and public health.
In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to acclaimed food policy journalist Helena Bottemiller Evich about the rise of the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) movement, the current state of food and nutrition policy under its agenda, and predictions for its future.
Foreign food safety inspections conducted by FDA have hit a historic low due to Trump Administration budget and staff cuts, according to an investigative report by ProPublica.
Among the approximately 1,300 CDC staffers that were laid off by President Trump amid the government shutdown reductions in force (RIFs), 700 were quickly rehired, including the entire staff and editors of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, and 70 Epidemic Intelligence Service officers.
The Trump Administration revealed that it will begin mass layoffs of furloughed federal employees as the government shutdown continues, with HHS, which includes CDC and FDA, reported to be among the hardest hit agencies.
FDA’s Coordinated Outbreak Response and Evaluation (CORE) Investigation Table, which summarizes ongoing and closed foodborne illness outbreak investigations, has been put on pause. Additionally, HHS is set to furlough 41 percent of its employees.
