Food regulation update November 24: The latest on MAHA and related developments

CHICAGO, November 24, 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

Federal Program Funding

The legislation signed by President Trump to reopen the government included funding for USDA and FDA which are to be funded through fiscal year 2026 (up to September 30, 2026), ensuring support for related programs—including nutrition assistance—even if another shutdown occurs after January 30th. The FDA was allocated $7 billion, with $3.4 billion in discretionary funds. The bill also includes measures requiring federal agencies to rehire employees laid off during the shutdown and prohibits further mass layoffs until January 30, 2026.

Additional USDA funding provisions include:

• Agriculture Research: $3.8 billion for research initiatives, with $1.8 billion designated for the Agricultural Research Service and $1.7 billion for the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
• Nutrition: $8.2 billion for WIC, guaranteeing healthy food access for low-income mothers and their children.
• International Food Assistance: $1.2 billion for Food for Peace Title II Grants and $240 million for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education program, supporting export markets and emergency food aid.

Dietary Guidelines

As we anxiously await the release of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), we continue to receive insight into what dietary recommendations will be included. Secretary Kennedy and FDA Commissioner Makary spoke at a Food Allergy Fund Leadership Forum this week and referenced the Dietary Guidelines with Kennedy noting, “We’re ending the war on saturated fats in this country. We’re going to publish dietary guidelines that are going to stress the importance of protein and saturated fats.” This is not a departure from what the current Administration has been saying for months as they have indicated they will be promoting whole, real foods including dairy, meat, fruits and vegetables. However, it is a complete departure from previous iterations of the DGA recommendation of 10% of calories from saturated fat due to its link with increasing cardiovascular disease. Makary stated, “We’re going to emphasize the quality of the food, the quality of the grains, and where the food comes from, the importance of fiber, the importance of protein, [and] less of a demonization of natural saturated fats.” Interesting enough, this is one of the few times the Administration has noted quality of grains. As far as timing we are still anticipating December based on their remarks, however there are rumblings that it could be early next year before they are released.

SNAP

USDA announced that millions of low-income individuals will be required to reapply for food stamp benefits as part of an initiative aimed at addressing potential fraud, according to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. In an interview last week with Newsmax, Secretary Rollins stated her intention to verify that every recipient of taxpayer-funded food assistance is truly vulnerable and unable to sustain themselves without such support. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July, introduced significant changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), including an $186 billion reduction in funding, new work requirements, and additional eligibility restrictions. These measures constitute the most substantial reform of the program to date. At present SNAP recipients are not receiving any communication to do anything differently but to follow the normal SNAP recertification process. Secretary Rollins also hinted about additional reform being announced in the coming weeks to the SNAP program. However late this week since Rollins make those remarks USDA has now said they will rely on existing policies and the current verification process rather than forcing people to reapply for benefits.

Industry News

Food Safety Concerns

Over two dozen prominent consumer and industry organizations have sent a letter urging the Trump administration to increase funding for FoodNet and other CDC food safety programs that have faced budget reductions. This appeal follows the CDC’s announcement that due to budget constraints FoodNet now only monitors two foodborne pathogens: Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). As a result, six additional pathogens—Campylobacter, Cyclospora, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia—are no longer required to be reported by state health agencies contributing to the program. The groups are also requesting that the Administration support a 50% increase, or $36 million, in CDC Food Safety Program funding, bringing the total to $108 million for fiscal year 2027, “to preserve essential programs necessary for resolving foodborne illness outbreaks, including FoodNet.”

MAHA

The Return of Calley

Calley Means, formerly a temporary White House staffer and trusted associate of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been appointed as a senior adviser in the Department of Health and Human Services under the Trump administration. He is expected to help connect the MAHA movement and President Trumps MAGA coalition.

GLOBAL

Ultra-Processed Foods

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently inviting public comments regarding the experts provisionally selected for the guideline development group (GDG), tasked with drafting a guideline on ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption. Experts were identified through an open call and outreach to WHO Regional Offices and other relevant networks. The proposed composition of the GDG remains subject to review and confirmation by the WHO Guidelines Review Committee. Names and brief, self-reported biographies of the selected individuals are available for public notice and comment. Comments may be submitted online until November 30, 2025. For further inquiries about the public notice or comment process, please contact Healthy_Diet@who.int.

New Report on UPF

The Lancet Group, a well-respected medical journal published a three-paper series, on ultra-processed foods (UPF) proposing broad food taxes and strict regulations that could affect nutritious and affordable options in Europe. This three-part series conducted over 2 years with 43 authors examines how UPF have become a larger part of diets worldwide and connects this trend to an increase in non-communicable diseases. As part of the series the authors cast blame on major global companies in driving the expansion and demand of UPF to boost profits with a call to action for using advanced political strategies. They note that simply educating people or relying on individual changes isn’t enough to address the problem. The authors argue that poorer diets now pose a serious public health risk, and tackling this issue requires joint policies, and advocacy focused on limiting UPF and improving access to fresh, less processed options. The Series also proposes a new approach to food systems—one that supports local producers, maintains cultural food traditions, and brings economic benefits to communities. Ultimately, the authors argue that, although additional studies on the impact of UPF on human health will be valuable, further research should not delay public health action to tackle UPF and improve diets globally. In addition, they launched the Ultra-Processed Food Research Action Network (UPF-RAN), a global initiative hosted by Colansa. This network coordinates research and shares evidence about the effects of UPF on human and planetary health with policymakers, advocates, journalists, and educators. Although targeted

The release of this series was accompanied by a launch event that attracted global media coverage, drawing hundreds of attendees—including government officials, advocacy groups, and food industry representatives—and 3,000 virtual viewers.

LAUNCH EVENT THEMES & TAKEAWAYS

• The food industry was identified as a key driver of chronic disease, with several speakers likening its tactics to the tobacco industry.
• Speakers called for removing industry involvement from policy-making, academic research, and public health events due to conflicts of interest.
• Experts discussed food industry strategies to delay regulation, such as publishing research to create confusion and slowing policy implementation.
• The papers advocate shifting from voluntary to mandatory regulations targeting the marketing, availability, and affordability of UPFs.
• Recommendations were made for identifying UPFs using both nutrient thresholds and specific additives.
• A multi-level approach to policy—product, corporation, environment, and supply chain—was supported.
• Mandatory regulations, such as marketing restrictions for children, taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, and effective labeling, were strongly recommended.