RFK Jr. proposes fix to loophole that allows additives into food. Critics say it doesn’t go far enough.

Health newsRFK Jr. proposes fix to loophole that allows additives into food. Critics say it doesn’t go far enough.The Trump administration also announced it would define “ultraprocessed foods” but did not provide a definition or a timeline for announcing one.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during an event at the Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington on Monday.Win McNamee / Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleAug. 10, 2026, 2:16 PM EDTBy Berkeley Lovelace Jr., Aria Bendix and Erika EdwardsThe Trump administration said it’s taking first steps in strengthening rules over ingredients food companies have long added to their products with minimal oversight. Under a proposed rule announced Monday, manufacturers will have to notify the Food and Drug Administration when they deem additives as “generally recognized as safe,” also known as GRAS, as well as provide information on existing additives.But critics say that while this is a good first step, the proposed rule won’t prevent manufacturers from adding new ingredients to foods, nor will it remove the many thousands of additives already in foods. The GRAS designation, which began in the 1950s, was meant to simplify the use of common ingredients like paprika, garlic and vanilla and avoid a lengthy approval process while also freeing up the FDA’s limited resources. Companies are not required to tell the FDA when deciding what they consider GRAS.Critics, including public health experts and food scientists, have long said the industry has exploited the rule to introduce thousands of unstudied chemicals into the nation’s food supply, potentially endangering public health.Add NBC News to GoogleRobert F. Kennedy Jr. announces move to define ultraprocessed foods04:11Deeming an ingredient GRAS does not necessarily make it so, and the FDA has banned certain ingredients from food after evidence emerged that they might harm health. These include...