HHS Seeks to End Rule Allowing Food Companies to Bypass FDA Ingredient Approval

The regulation has been exploited to add ingredients such as BHA, a potential carcinogen, in food items, Kennedy said.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a meeting on Capitol Hill on Jan. 9, 2025. Allison Robbert/AFP

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on March 10 that it is seeking to terminate a rule allowing food manufacturers to use additives without formal regulatory approval.

The Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) rule allows companies to self-approve the inclusion of additives in food items without requiring a review and the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The rule enables manufacturers to add an ingredient even if the FDA has not determined its safety.