RFK Jr. wants to eliminate FDA’s controversial food additive program. Here’s why that matters

Sign up for CNN’s Eat, But Better: Mediterranean Style. “For far too long, ingredient manufacturers and sponsors have exploited a loophole that has allowed new ingredients and chemicals, often with unknown safety data, to be introduced into the U.S. food supply without notification to the FDA or the public,” Kennedy said in a statement Monday. It’s way past time for the FDA to close it,” said Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor Emerita of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University, in an email. “Nobody wants to be sick.” Melissa Hockstad, president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association, which represents the food industry, told CNN in an email that the meeting was “constructive.” “We look forward to continued engagement with the secretary and the qualified experts within HHS to support public health, build consumer trust and promote consumer choice,” Hockstad said. However, representatives for food companies say the GRAS process plays an important role in enabling companies to “innovate to meet consumer demand.” “As the administration looks to revise GRAS, we stand ready to work with agency experts on continued analysis of safe ingredients and increase consumer transparency,” said Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy and federal affairs for the Consumer Brands Association, in an email.