FMI calls for congressional action on FDA's proposed overhaul of food ingredient safety reviews

ARLINGTON, Va. — FMI–The Food Industry Association is pressing Congress to hand the Food and Drug Administration expanded authority over food ingredient safety, arguing that the agency's newly proposed reform of its "Generally Recognized as Safe" review process cannot succeed without legislative backing.

In a statement Monday, FMI Chief Public Policy Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Harris said the trade group backs the FDA's move to modernize the GRAS framework, which governs how food ingredients are deemed safe for use without going through the agency's full premarket approval process. But she said the proposal, on its own, exposes the boundaries of what FDA can do under current law.

"FDA's proposal is an important step, but it underscores the limits of what the agency can accomplish under its existing statutory authority," Harris said. "Durable reform requires Congress to give FDA the clear mandate, tools and resources necessary to modernize the GRAS program effectively and establish a national uniform standard."

FMI said it supports "meaningful, science-based modernization" aimed at improving transparency and reinforcing consumer confidence in the food supply, while keeping FDA as the primary federal authority for evaluating ingredient safety through what Harris described as a rigorous, science-driven and transparent process.

The group is urging lawmakers to act this year to create a uniform national standard for ingredient transparency, warning that without federal legislation, the country risks a "fragmented state-by-state patchwork" of rules that could create inconsistent requirements for food companies and confusion for consumers.

"We look forward to working with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as well as the White House to make this a reality," Harris said.

The GRAS process has drawn increased scrutiny in recent years from lawmakers, regulators and consumer advocates who argue it allows companies to self-affirm the safety of some ingredients with limited FDA oversight. FMI's statement did not detail the specific provisions of FDA's proposed rule.

FMI represents food retailers, wholesalers and their suppliers, and regularly weighs in on federal regulatory and legislative issues affecting the grocery industry.