U.S. Officials Raise Alarms Over Ultraprocessed Foods and Regulatory Gaps

U.S. health officials and food experts are raising concerns about the health impacts of ultraprocessed foods, citing their prevalence in the American diet and the regulatory system for food ingredients. Discussions have focused on potential links to chronic diseases, the role of the "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) exemption, and proposed policy changes.

Concerns Over Ultraprocessed Foods

Former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. David Kessler and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have stated that ultraprocessed foods, which often contain ingredients like corn syrup and maltodextrin, have been linked to various health issues over decades. Kessler asserted that these products have altered human metabolism, contributing to a rise in chronic diseases. These include Type 2 diabetes, pre-diabetes, hypertension, abnormal lipids, fatty liver, heart attacks, stroke, and heart failure.

Both Kessler and Kennedy indicated that ultraprocessed foods can stimulate brain reward circuits, potentially leading to overeating and a reduced sense of fullness. Food author Michael Pollan also connected ultraprocessed foods to increasing rates of obesity and diseases such as stroke and diabetes.

According to Kennedy, ultraprocessed foods constitute approximately half of the average American's diet, contributing to concurrent obesity and malnourishment. Data suggests that 70% of Americans are either obese or overweight. For children, ultraprocessed foods account for an estimated 60% of their diets.

The GRAS System Under Scrutiny

A central point of concern is the "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) exemption, enacted by Congress in 1958. This provision allows food companies to independently verify the safety of ingredients without full government oversight, provided the ingredients are recognized as safe by experts.

Kennedy and Kessler argue that this system has enabled the food industry to introduce numerous ingredients without adequate safety assessments by the FDA. Kennedy estimates that between 4,000 and 10,000 GRAS ingredients may be in American products, with the FDA lacking an exact count. Critics suggest that this lack of oversight contrasts with Europe, where approximately 400 legal ingredients are used.

Kessler, who previously addressed tobacco industry practices, suggested that ultraprocessed foods may represent a public health challenge of similar or greater scale.

Research and Dietary Impacts

Pollan cited a National Institutes of Health study, "Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain," which was an inpatient randomized controlled trial. Participants were housed in a controlled environment for one month. For two weeks, one group consumed ultraprocessed food, while another consumed whole foods, both ad libitum. The group consuming ultraprocessed food reportedly consumed about 500 more calories per day.

Researchers hypothesized that ultraprocessed foods are energy-dense and often lack fiber, which can reduce satiety and encourage overeating. Pollan further linked the prevalence of inexpensive, factory-processed foods to federal farm subsidies, particularly for corn and soybeans, which are raw ingredients for processed foods and animal feed.

Industry Response

The Consumer Brands Association, a trade group representing food companies, stated that its member companies innovate to meet consumer demand and adhere to the FDA's science and risk-based evaluation of ingredients. The association also maintained that there is "no agreed upon scientific definition of ultra-processed foods" and that companies adhere to evidence-based safety standards and nutrition policies to provide safe, affordable, and convenient products.

The American Farm Bureau Federation stated that a healthy diet includes diverse nutrient-dense foods and a balance of fats, carbohydrates, protein, and fiber, some of which can originate from shelf-stable products.

Government Actions and Policy Proposals

Kennedy's administration recently issued new dietary guidelines, advising against highly processed foods for the first time. Kennedy indicated plans to seek White House approval to address the GRAS system.

He stated that he intends to act on a petition from Dr. Kessler, which calls for revoking GRAS status for numerous refined carbohydrates, including sweeteners and starches like corn syrup and maltodextrin. This revocation would occur unless companies can provide proof of their safety and demonstrate they do not contribute to obesity. Kennedy affirmed that his review of GRAS ingredients would utilize "gold standard science" and that the objective is to ensure an informed public understanding of food products rather than direct regulation of ultraprocessed foods.

Kennedy's administration also stated a priority to make whole foods affordable and accessible to all Americans. Pollan suggested that changes in agricultural subsidy structures are necessary, advocating for subsidizing healthier calories and establishing food policies that prioritize public health and environmental well-being over solely achieving low food prices.

In December, San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu filed a lawsuit against ten manufacturers of ultraprocessed foods. The lawsuit alleges that these companies knowingly engineered and marketed addictive, dangerous products, concealed risks, and contributed to a public health crisis. The Consumer Brands Association declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Dietary Recommendations

Food author Michael Pollan's book, "Food Rules: An Eater's Manual," offers practical dietary advice:

"Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."

Other recommendations include:

• Avoiding products with unpronounceable ingredients.
• Prioritizing shopping the perimeter of the supermarket, where fresh produce, meats, and dairy are typically located, over inner aisles.
• Increasing home cooking frequency.
• Eating meals while seated at a table.