Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated in a CBS 60 Minutes interview that aired February 16, 2026, that the FDA will review a petition filed in August 2025 by former FDA Commissioner David Kessler. The petition requests revocation of GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for processed refined carbohydrates including corn syrup, maltodextrin, and other sweeteners and starches unless manufacturers can prove they are safe and not contributing to obesity and metabolic disease.
The GRAS classification, enacted by Congress in 1958, allows food companies to independently verify ingredient safety without FDA oversight if the ingredients are recognized by experts as safe. Kennedy characterized this as a "loophole" that has allowed thousands of ingredients into the food supply. Kessler, who served as FDA Commissioner from 1990-1997 under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, argues that ultra-processed foods have altered American metabolism and contributed to chronic disease increases.
When pressed by correspondent Bill Whitaker on whether he would regulate ultra-processed foods, Kennedy clarified: "I'm not saying that we're going to regulate ultraprocessed food. Our job is to make sure that everybody understands what they're getting, to have an informed public." Kennedy stated he would need White House approval to close the GRAS loophole. The interview took place after the Trump administration released new dietary guidelines in January 2026 encouraging more protein and less sugar while avoiding highly processed foods.
