Food regulation update September 29: The latest on MAHA and related developments

CHICAGO, September 29, 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

Head Start Programs
HHS announced through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced over $61 million in supplemental nutrition funding will go to over 290 Head Start programs around the nation to support nutrition services, promote healthy eating habits, and improve access to nutrient dense foods for more than 100,000 children and families. The supplemental nutrition funding delivers on HHS's recently published MAHA strategy and Secretary Kennedy’s commitment to addressing childhood nutrition challenges and promoting healthy development. Selected Head Start programs will receive funds to implement their nutrition initiatives over the next 12 months, with long-term impacts expected to benefit Head Start families and communities for years to come. For a complete list of grant recipients and award amounts, visit Supplemental Funds for Head Start Nutrition Programming | The Administration for Children and Families.

Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson will serve as an adviser to the Agriculture Department on nutrition, health care, and housing, focusing on the MAHA agenda. The retired neurosurgeon and failed 2016 presidential candidate will lead USDA’s efforts to revamp Americans’ diets, working closely with Secretary Rollins and HHS Secretary Kennedy.

Nearly 600 groups focused on sustainable agriculture, anti-hunger, and rural advocacy sent a letter to Congress urging passage of a new farm bill that counters previous Republican policies and USDA cuts. They call for policies improving animal welfare, farmworker conditions, market competition, and support for young or marginalized farmers. The letter also highlights the need to address harmful effects of USDA reorganizations, funding freezes, and staff reductions.

USDA

Food Security Reports
The USDA announced it will end future Household Food Security Reports, which have been used to track national rates of food insecurity and hunger. USDA noted the reports “failed to present anything more than subjective, liberal fodder. Trends in the prevalence of food insecurity have remained virtually unchanged, regardless of an over 87% increase in SNAP spending between 2019 - 2023.” The announcement released over the weekend seemed to fly under the radar however many anti-hunger groups are outraged particularly given the timing of the passage of the "Big Beautiful Bill" which will drive the largest reduction to SNAP funding in the program’s history.

SNAP
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is proposing changes to strengthen the stocking requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Currently, SNAP retailers must offer three food varieties in each of four staple categories: dairy, protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables. The proposed rule would raise this to seven varieties per category, close loopholes that let certain snacks count as staple foods and simplify food classification for easier compliance and enforcement. USDA notes this change aims to strengthen program integrity, reduce opportunities for fraud, and ensure taxpayer funds support genuine food retailers. Public comments on the proposed rule can be submitted until November 24, 2025, by visiting regulations.gov. The full text of the rule is available on the FNS website.