The FDA is starting the regulatory process to close the GRAS Loophole. This proposed rule, if finalized, would amend the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) regulations in 21 CFR parts 170 and 570 to require the mandatory submission of GRAS notices for the use of human and animal food substances that are purported to be GRAS. What?  You mean manufacturers are not already required to tell the FDA when they are putting new additives into foods?

The EAT-Lancet Commission has released its updated report on "healthy, sustainable, and just food systems." Let me point out immediately that the report was written by a great many authors (I could not easily count them), is 76 pages long, and is pretty much impenetrable without a lot of hard work. As it did in its first report in 2019, …

I learned about this one from Women's Health: New Study Confirms What We've Known About Eggs' Health Impacts All Along.   Translation: Saturated fat raises blood cholesterol levels more than does dietary cholesterol.  Guess who paid for it! The study: Impact of dietary cholesterol from eggs and saturated fat on LDL cholesterol levels: a randomized cross-over study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 

The World Health Organization's declaration on prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs---heart disease, type 2 diabetes, etc) was in the news this week (its source is here). First, because of what it says and does not say: These things are miserable to read.  You have to start with the "recognizes." Here are two: Recognize also that the main modifiable risk factors of noncommunicable diseases are tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and air pollution and are largely preventable and require cross-sectoral actions;

I'm indebted to a reader, Daniel Wiser, for sending me this item about how US Poultry is honoring Tyson Foods and Perdue Foods for "excellence in wastewater management." The US Poultry & Egg Association announces the recipients of the 2025 Clean Water Award: Tyson Foods in Danville, Va., and Perdue Foods in Lewiston, N.C. This annual award honors poultry facilities that demonstrate strong performance in wastewater treatment, water reuse and overall sustainability.

After 20 years, of being owned by Unilever, Ben & Jerry are unhappy about how that relationship is working out.  They say they are being silenced and their independence is being infringed upon. According to Reuters, Ben & Jerry's co-founder Jerry Greenfield, part of the duo whose names shaped the popular U.S. ice cream brand over the last half-century, has quit his role as "brand ambassador" after a rift and public feud with parent Unilever…

The USDA requires retailers who accept SNAP benefits to stock a few fruits and vegetables.  Formerly, USDA required retailers to provide three varieties of food in each of four categories---dairy, protein, grain, and fruits and vegetables.  It allowed stores to meet these requirements by providing a few tired-looking produce items, such as the ones shown here from a Walgreen drugstore.

When I saw this article in the Journal of Nutrition, my first question was, "Who paid for it?" The article: Yogurt and Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Exploring the Food and Drug Administration Qualified Health Claim and Potential Implications for Improving Public Health. Freitas, Miguel et al. The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 155, Issue 8, 2475 - 2484…

Julia Belluz and Kevin Hall.  Food Intelligence: The Science of how Food Both Nourishes and Harms Us.  Avery, 2025. ~340 pages This is the long-awaited manifesto from the journalist Julia Belluz and scientist Kevin Hall. As the press release puts it,  the book digs deep into the fundamental, often overlooked, and always enthralling science of nutrition (the chemicals and energy we get from food) and metabolism (how our bodies use food)—covering what we know and the history of how we came to know it, up to the frontiers of research into the invisible forces that really shape our eating habits.

I'm giving the keynote to this event.  For information and registration, click here.

So many readers have sent me notices about California’s Senate having unanimously passed a bill banning ultra-processed foods from schools---and defining what they are---that I just have to write about it. The bill is here.  The legislative analysis is here. Two things about this bill are noteworthy. I.  The bill defines ultra-processed foods.  An ultra-processed food: Contains one or more of the following…

According to the Wall Street Journal (sent to me by Lindsey Smith Taillie, who is quoted in the story), the USDA will no longer be collecting data on food insecurity after this year. “This nonstatutory report became overly politicized and upon subsequent review, was unnecessary to carry out the work of the Department,” USDA spokesman Alec Varsamis said. He added that the 2024 report will be released on Oct.

It breaks my heart to learn of the death of the great cookbook author and food politics writer, Marian Burros. She was immensely important to me and to my work. Her obituary in the New York Times appeared on Saturday; I was interviewed for it some years ago and am quoted: Marian was hugely ahead of her time in writing about the importance of food choices that not only improve health but also are sustainable and protect the environment...She was writing about the politics of food long before anyone dreamed that a food movement might exist.”

Link to registration to come soon.

Corporate Climate Resposibility Monitor has published its 2025 report: Food and Agriculture Sector Deep Dive, which looks at measures of protection against climate change.  It doesn't find much. It does find: Agrifood companies present measures that are unlikely to lead to structural, deep emission reductions in the sector. Agrifood companies’ emission reduction targets are currently undermined by the undefined role for land-based carbon removals.

Protein is very much on the food agenda these days despite evidence that hardly anyone needs more of it than they are already getting.  This has led to at least two trends. I.  Nutritional hilarity.  Here's my current favorite example (you can't make this stuff up). II.  Eat more meat! The Institute for Food Technology says Hunger for Protein Fuels Meat Mania.

The USDA issued an announcement last week: Secretary Rollins Announces Reinvigorated Farm to School Grants Supporting American Farmers and Children.   And here's her video announcement. I love the way the USDA uses Orwellian language (meaning the opposite of what it says). New this year, USDA reimagined the Farm to School Grant program, implementing several improvements, including streamlining the application, removing barriers to innovation, and emphasizing partnerships to give small family farms the best chance at success.

The alcohol industry must be exceptionally powerful (that's why it is regulated by the Treasury Department, which cares about revenues, rather than an agency of Health and Human Services.  Its lobbying is highly effective, especially when it comes to Dietary Guidelines. That is also most likely why the Senate Agriculture appropriations bill contains this clause : SEC . 759. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) were tasked with providing findings and recommendations on alcohol consumption for the purposes of inclusion in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as required by section 772 of division A of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 117–328): Provided, That…

Fred Kirschnmann died over the weekend after a long illness, a great loss. He described himself as a farmer-philosopher, and so he was. I first met him in the early 2000s when I went to Iowa State to give a lecture.  The Dean of Agriculture, Cathy Wokeki, said I had to meet him.  He was then directing the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State, which promoted organic, sustainable, regenerative farming methods right smack in the epicenter of U.S.

Reports about one or another aspect of food systems are issued constantly and are hard to keep up with.  Here are links to two major sources. I.  The International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems. This group produces impressive food-system reports at regular intervals. Its most recent is Fuel to Fork: What will it take to get fossil fuels out of our food systems?

The Consumer Brands Association (formerly the Grocery Manufacturers Association) did a survey to prove that its icons on the front of cereal boxes and some other products are trusted by consumers: Facts up Front label earns high marks for trust in new survey Why wouldn't they be trusted?  They merely repeat what's on the Nutrition Facts label. But here' what they say:

Yesterday, USDA and HHS released the official version of the leaked draft:  Make Our Children Healthy AgainStrategy  It's pretty much the same as the one I saw previously and posted about. A bunch of reporters sent me copies of the draft for comment.  I wrote up some general comments: Comments on MAHA Strategy Report First impression:  Wait!  I’ve seen this before. 

I know I've been posting this graph multiple times, but to me it sums up everything that's wrong with the U.S. agricultural system.  Close to half the biofuels grown in the U.S. is used to make biofuels. Here's what happens to corn. But that's not all.  Roughly 40% of U.S. soybeans are converted to diesel fuel, according to a report from the World Resources Institute: 

Beef Checkoffs are USDA-sponsored programs that require producers to pay fees per cattle weight (the checkoff) into a common fund for research and promotion.  Here are three examples of the kinds of studies on beef and health that checkoff money pays for.  Note that all produce results favoring eating beef (what a coincidence). I.  Eating beef protects against heart disease, cancer, and overall mortality…