Food regulation update October 6: The latest on MAHA and related developments

CHICAGO, October 6, 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.

FEDERAL UPDATES

Government Shutdown
On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government entered a shutdown due to Congress’ inability to pass a funding agreement that would extend current appropriations. The length of this shutdown will determine its impact, with even brief gaps affecting food policy, food safety, and nutrition programs. More than 40% of HHS employees are furloughed. Extended funding gaps could lead to permanent job losses, communication breakdowns, and restricted patient admissions at NIH. Active staffing rates vary: FDA 86%, NIH 24.5%, CDC 36%.

Government Functions During the Shutdown:

Federal nutrition programs could be disrupted depending on available funds and how long the shutdown lasts. SNAP benefits will be distributed in October, but future issuance may be delayed if the shutdown continues. School meal programs can temporarily operate using carryover funds but may face delays if the shutdown is prolonged.

Agencies such as USDA and FDA will maintain emergency operations—like meat inspections and foodborne illness outbreak responses—but routine inspections and regulatory activities may be postponed. Most public meetings and nonessential events are canceled.

At present, Federal program participants face immediate service disruptions and reduced food safety oversight. If the shutdown continues, challenges within the food system may worsen over time.

Anthony Letai, MD, Ph.D., was sworn in as director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), by HHS Secretary Kennedy. Dr. Letai takes the helm of the world’s most prestigious cancer research agency after serving as professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He possesses decades of experience studying cell death in cancer, developing treatments, and identifying predictive biomarkers.

USDA

Beef & Dairy
USDA Secretary Rollins expects demand for beef and whole milk to rise with the upcoming release of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Both Secretary Kennedy and Secretary Rollins have repeatedly noted the new DGA will recommend “whole foods” including whole-fat diary, fruits, vegetables and meats while restricting added sugars and ultra-processed foods. We can anticipate a backlash from the nutrition and medical community if these recommendations occur as this negates decades of research and recommendations to reduce saturated fat content in the diet. Currently, beef demand is high, but supply is low due to several factors, including drought, higher feed costs, tariffs, trade restrictions due to concerns about the flesh-eating New World screwworm, and the lowest U.S. cattle inventory since 1951. Although this week FDA conditionally approved a new injectable drug as a solution for the prevention and treatment of New World screwworm to address this growing challenge. In a recent appearance at the Ag Outlook Forum in Kansas City, Mo., Rollins said the USDA is working on a plan to support the domestic beef industry.

Social Post
Secretary Rollins and newly appointed nutrition advisor Dr. Ben Carson took to X to post a video discussing the newly proposed stocking requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).


MAHA

More Commitments

Walmart Inc. will remove synthetic dyes and 30 other additives, such as artificial sweeteners, fat substitutes, and select preservatives, from its US store-brand foods by January 2027. The changes cover all in-house food and beverage brands, with some updated products launching soon. According to NIQ, Walmart’s Great Value line is the largest private label food brand in the US, with nearly 90% of American households as customers.

Utz Brands has also become the latest major food producer to embrace MAHA after it agreed to remove all synthetic dyes from its food products by the end of 2027.

Mondelez, which manufactures brightly colored Sour Patch Kids and Swedish Fish candies announced they are actively working to replace synthetic colors for natural dyes in their products. They did not announce a time frame for the transition.

Other News

Food Industry Focused Movie
Scheduled to be released on Apple TV and Netflix in November a new documentary entitled “Breaking Big Food” will focus on the food industry being a driver of chronic disease. There will be a few notable guest appearances including Calley Means, White House Advisor for MAHA where he will explain how “Big Food” manipulated “Big Government” which led to “garbage” in our grocery stores.