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2w ago

Kennedy Says FDA Will Act on Petition Targeting GRAS Status of Processed Carbs

The review centers on whether processed refined carbohydrates should retain GRAS status given evidence of metabolic harm.

Dr. David Kessler, Former Commissioner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, speaks at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing in the Capitol Basement hearing room in Washington, DC, on April 9, 2025.
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance (not pictured) during the inaugural Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) summit in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo
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Overview

  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told 60 Minutes the FDA will act on former commissioner David Kessler’s petition to reassess the safety status of ingredients common in ultra-processed foods.
  • Kennedy signaled a focus on public transparency rather than immediate new regulations, saying the goal is to ensure consumers understand what they are buying.
  • The FDA issued an interim response last week saying it has not reached a final decision on the petition and that its review is ongoing.
  • Kessler’s filing seeks to revoke GRAS status for processed refined carbohydrates such as corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and refined flours and starches, arguing past determinations relied on outdated data and ignored metabolic risks.
  • Industry groups including the Consumer Brands Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation defended the GRAS framework and said there is no agreed scientific definition of ultra-processed foods.