FDA Leaders Grilled by a Testy Senate Committee on Ultraprocessed Foods, Chemical Additives
In their waning days, current leaders of the FDA promised a Senate committee they would investigate ultraprocessed foods and questionable chemicals in foods and beverages and said they are working on front-of-package labeling and a definition of “healthy.”
That’s a lot to do in just over a month, especially since those issues have been debated for years, maybe decades. With a new and very different administration on its way in, the agency’s priorities could change mightily.
Nevertheless, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and Jim Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, testified Dec. 5 to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The meeting was titled, presumably by the committee, “What is the FDA doing to reduce the diabetes and obesity epidemics in America and take on the greed of the food and beverage industry?”
Maybe a little antagonistic?
Committee chairman is the affable independent senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, and Bill Cassidy MD of Louisiana is the ranking member. Sanders led off with, “For decades, Congress and the FDA have allowed large corporations to make huge profits by enticing children and adults to consume ultra-processed food and beverages loaded up with sugar, salt and saturated fat. There is growing evidence, including testimony before this committee that these foods are deliberately designed to be addictive – similar to cigarettes and alcohol – and lead to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.”
In his prepared remarks, Califf said: “This is an important time to testify before this committee on a growing and vitally urgent issue facing Americans: chronic disease, including diet-related chronic disease. The food we eat is exacerbating America’s tragic title for the lowest life expectancy among large high-income countries.”
While the FDA commissioner noted “there are myriad factors influencing health,” Califf quickly focused on ultraprocessed foods (UPF). “FDA agrees that the clear association between UPF and poor health outcomes is cause for major concern. Foods deemed ultraprocessed are usually characterized by industrial processing, the presence of additives such as flavors or colors, and nutrients intended to make them appetizing (saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars).”
While he admitted there are some healthful UPFs and more research is needed, “We are not waiting idly for these answers. Later this month, FDA is convening a workshop with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and a principal focus is to identify key priorities and critical next steps for research on UPF to help accelerate higher quality research. We are also aggressively taking policy steps where the evidence is clear.”
Those steps apparently include front-of-package (FOP) labeling, which would put key nutrition and anti-nutrition facts up front. “Publishing a proposed rule on FOP nutrition labeling is a priority for FDA,” Califf said. Another step would be defining what qualifies for a “healthy” packaging or marketing claim. The agency wants the designation to be used – “to help consumers identify foods that are the foundation of a healthy dietary pattern,” Califf said – but not abused.
Califf gave the FDA credit for a voluntary program with the food industry to reduce sodium, with some reduction goals already achieved and others in the works. It “has the potential to be one of the most important public health initiatives in a generation,” he said.
Califf also updated the committee on the agency’s efforts on “food chemical safety,” noting the agency held a public meeting in September to create a post-market assessment of chemicals in food. Any resulting action could mean the end of the Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) process.
All of this is occurring under the new Human Foods Program, a significant reorganization of FDA resources just launched Oct. 1 to improve the agency’s oversight of all things food and beverage.
What will become of this hearing remains uncertain. With new leaders already proposed for FDA and its parent, the Dept. of Health and Human Services, leadership will change, and so could priorities. Likewise, with Republicans taking control of the Senate, this committee and its aggressive stance will likely change too.
