Kessler Urges Kennedy to Revoke GRAS for Dozens of Processed Carbs as 70% of Americans Are Overweight
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 9
Kessler Urges Kennedy to Revoke GRAS for Dozens of Processed Carbs as 70% of Americans Are Overweight
1 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 9
Summary
David Kessler has petitioned HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to strip GRAS status from dozens of refined carbohydrates, including corn syrup and maltodextrin, unless manufacturers prove they are safe and not driving obesity.
Kessler argues the 1958 GRAS exemption let food companies add rapidly absorbed sweeteners and starches without full government review, helping ultraprocessed foods grow to about 50% of U.S. diets and 60% of children's diets.
Kennedy said HHS will act on the petition and review GRAS ingredients with "gold standard science," while also saying the FDA does not know how many ingredients are in U.S. food—estimates range from 4,000 to 10,000.
The push comes despite skepticism about Kennedy's scientific credibility because of his vaccine views, even as Kessler says he strongly disagrees with him on vaccines but supports action on ultraprocessed foods.
The fight is widening beyond Washington: San Francisco sued 10 ultraprocessed-food makers in December, while industry groups say there is no agreed scientific definition of ultraprocessed foods and defend current FDA safety standards.