CHICAGO, September 2, 2025 — IFMA The Food Away from Home Association launched a new benefit for members: A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. The report is compiled and written by Dr. Joy Dubost, a renowned food scientist and registered dietitian with strong knowledge of what’s happening on the regulatory front.


MAHA UPDATES

RFK’s Ongoing Strategy 
With the mid-term elections rapidly approaching Republicans are seeking votes of MAHA supporters. However those who have previously supported Kenedy are publicly expressing their disappointment including a lack of aggressive action against pesticides. As a result, Kennedy is traveling the country to promote the MAHA agenda with HHS covering his tour on the recently published MAHA in Action site. In addition HHS will soon be launching their national “Take Back Your Health” campaign utilizing TV ads, billboards, and other means to promote MAHA messaging. Also, Kennedy will continue to work with governors and other state officials to pass bills that are aligned to his MAHA mission. We continue to wait for the official public release of the MAHA Commission’s second report along with the pending 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.


CDC

Leadership Update
Director Susan Monarez was fired just weeks after her confirmation. HHS posted on the social media platform X that Monarez was "no longer director" of the CDC, however the attorneys for Monarez responded on X stating she had "neither resigned nor received notification from the White House that she has been fired." Shortly after the White House responded with a statement: "Since Susan Monarez refused to resign despite informing HHS leadership of her intent to do so, the White House has terminated Monarez from her position with the CDC." Following Monarez departure other senior leaders at CDC quit including the chief medical officer, the top respiratory illness and immunization official, and infectious disease expert. The White House has appointed Deputy Health Secretary Jim O’Neill as acting head of the CDC. This has not gone unnoticed by members of Congress who have publicly expressed concerns. Senate health committee chair and member of the finance committee Bill Cassidy (R-La) weighed in on X that the CDC leadership departures "will require oversight by the HELP Committee." Kennedy is scheduled to meet before the Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 4, a meeting that was already scheduled prior to the CDC leadership changes.

 

STATES

California
In September the Legislature is scheduled to vote on Senate Bill 68, known as the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act (ADDE). If enacted and signed by Governor Newsom, this legislation would become effective on July 1, 2026. The proposed law would make California the first state in the U.S. to require restaurants to indicate whether a menu item contains any of the nine most common food allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans. Restaurants would be permitted to provide allergen information through physical menus, an allergen chart, an allergen-specific menu, or other printed materials. Additionally, they could utilize a QR code to link to a digital menu listing relevant allergens. Food trucks and carts would be exempt from these requirements.

New Jersey
Congressman Pallone is introducing H.R.4958, the Grocery Reform And Safety (GRAS) Act, which proposes to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require notification to the FDA prior to use of substances as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), reassessment of the safety of certain substances marketed as GRAS, as well as provide resources for reviews and reassessments.. Under this bill, anyone wanting to market a new or previously unmarketed food substance as GRAS must submit detailed safety data to the Secretary covering identity, composition, manufacturing process, effects, and supporting investigations, including studies on carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity. The Secretary must respond within 180 days, with one possible 90-day extension and may update decisions if new evidence emerges. Link for more information. 

Texas
Inspired by the MAHA movement, Texas Governor Abbott has signed Senate Bill (SB 25) targeting food additives and sugary products as part of the “Make Texas Healthy Again” legislative package. One bill establishes comprehensive fitness and nutrition education requirements for public schools, and mandates that products containing any of 44 state-identified “harmful additives” display a clear warning. This warning will apply to manufacturers utilizing ingredients such as bleached flour, partially hydrogenated oil, and various common food dyes. Beginning in 2027, these products must bear a prominent label stating: “WARNING: This product contains an ingredient that is not recommended for human consumption by the appropriate authority in Australia, Canada, the European Union, or the United Kingdom.” This labeling legislation secured unanimous approval in the state Senate and broad bipartisan support in the House. Another new law prohibits recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits from purchasing sweetened beverages and candy with those funds.


OTHER NEWS

UPF
Kraft, Mondelez, Coca-Cola, and other food companies had a lawsuit dismissed that accused them of making addictive ultra-processed foods harmful to children. A judge ruled that the 19-year-old plaintiff did not link specific products to his health issues. The lawsuit could set the precedent for future lawsuits given it claimed companies used tactics like those of the tobacco industry by knowingly making Americans addicted to certain foods despite health risks. The attorney for the plaintiff said in a statement that they were evaluating options for next steps in the case.

 

 

Stay informed with our new page tracking key federal and state policies impacting food-away-from-home. Get timely updates on issues like ultra-processed food definitions and submit feedback to ensure our industry’s voice is heard.

Regulatory & Legislative Developments