On Monday, the Trump administration took a partial step toward the overhaul promised by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The move seeks to tighten the oversight of substances that enter the American food supply.

Under the new guidance, food companies will be required to notify regulators whenever they introduce a new ingredient. Currently, firms can self‑certify that their substances are generally recognized as safe—a practice critics label the GRAS loophole—and add them without formal review.

The proposal also calls for stronger enforcement, a measure that ultimately hinges on Congressional action. Without legislative backing, the rules may remain largely symbolic.

If enacted, the policy would bring the U.S. food system into closer alignment with other global safety standards, potentially reducing the number of unregulated additives on shelves and increasing consumer confidence in what they eat.