FDA proposes to revoke 52 obsolete food standards

U.S.A. – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is proposing to revoke 52 food standards after concluding they are obsolete and unnecessary. 

The 52 standards apply to canned fruits and vegetables, dairy products, baked goods, macaroni products, and other foods.

This action supports the agency’s ongoing analysis of its portfolio of over 250 Food Standards of Identity (SOI) to ensure they are useful, relevant, and serve consumers in the best possible way. 

The FDA began establishing food standards in 1939 to promote “honesty and fair dealing” and to ensure that the characteristics, ingredients and production processes of specific foods were consistent with what consumers expect. 

“The FDA’s Standards of Identity efforts have helped ensure uniformity, boost consumer confidence and prevent food fraud. But many of these standards have outlived their usefulness and may even stifle innovation in making food easier to produce or providing consumers healthier choices,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. 

However, advances in food science, agriculture, and production practices, along with additional consumer protections, have rendered many of these older, rigid “recipe standards” unnecessary.

“Antiquated food standards are no longer serving to protect consumers. It is common sense to revoke them and move to a more judicious use of food standards and agency resources,”  Marty Makary added.

The proposed actions include a direct final rule revoking standards for 11 types of canned fruits and vegetables that are no longer sold in U.S. grocery stores, including seven standards for fruits artificially sweetened with saccharin or sodium saccharin. 

The agency is issuing a companion proposed rule in the same issue of the Federal Register in case the direct final rule is withdrawn because significant adverse comments are received, and the agency needs to move forward with a proposed rule to put these changes in place.

It has further proposed rule that would revoke standards for 18 types of dairy products, including certain milk and cream products, cheeses and related cheese products and frozen desserts.

Moreover, standards for 23 types of food products, including bakery products, macaroni and noodle products, canned fruit juices, fish and shellfish, and food dressings and flavorings are also on the line.

Many of the standards listed in the two proposed rules predate more recent consumer protections such as requirements about ingredient safety, ingredient labeling, food packaging, safe food production and manufacturing practices and nutrition labeling information and claims.

The removal of these standards aligns with efforts to ensure that HHS directs resources to where they’re most needed – delivering better outcomes for the American people.

This initiative supports a broader federal effort to reduce regulatory burdens and increase transparency, in alignment with President Trump’s Executive Order 14192 “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.”

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