ANH-USA calls for GRAS reform with radical transparency

Advocacy group warns against unworkable FDA pre-review rules while addressing ultra-processed food concerns

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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In response to a recent '60 Minutes' segment on ultra-processed foods and the 'self-affirmed GRAS' pathway, the Alliance for Natural Health USA (ANH-USA) is urging policymakers to pursue major GRAS reform centered on risk prioritization and radical transparency. ANH-USA agrees with the public health concerns over ultra-processed foods, but warns that proposals to force the FDA to pre-review every GRAS determination would be unworkable and could restrict access to many beneficial, low-risk ingredients.

Why it matters

The GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) system has allowed many potentially harmful ingredients to enter the food supply without adequate public scrutiny. ANH-USA believes GRAS reform is crucial, but cautions that overly restrictive rules could backfire and limit access to safe, healthy ingredients.

The details

ANH-USA is calling for GRAS reform that ends 'secret GRAS' determinations and requires public disclosure of the science behind GRAS decisions. The group also advocates for a risk-tiered system that prioritizes scrutiny on higher-risk substances, strengthened conflict-of-interest safeguards, and enabling independent scientific review of GRAS determinations. They argue this approach would improve transparency and safety without creating an unworkable regulatory bottleneck.

  • The '60 Minutes' segment on ultra-processed foods and GRAS aired on February 15, 2026.
  • ANH-USA published its GRAS reform blueprint in April 2025.

The players

ANH-USA

A 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization established in 1992 that defends Americans' access to natural and preventive healthcare.

Jonathan W. Emord Esq.

General Counsel for ANH-USA.

Rob Verkerk, PhD

Executive and Scientific Director of ANH-USA.

David Kessler

Former FDA Commissioner featured in the '60 Minutes' segment.

Secretary Kennedy

HHS Secretary featured in the '60 Minutes' segment.

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What they’re saying

“We fully support the need for GRAS reform—especially reform that ends secret GRAS and forces disclosure of the science related to ingredients for which there is evidence of harm, such as some used in UPFs.”

— Jonathan Emord, General Counsel for ANH-USA

“It is now evident that rising exposure and addiction to the specific combinations of industrially modified food ingredients, and increasing amounts of synthetic and bioengineered substances, are contributing to worsening metabolic health outcomes in the United States.”

— Rob Verkerk, PhD, Executive and Scientific Director of ANH-USA

What’s next

ANH-USA plans to continue advocating for its GRAS reform blueprint, which calls for increased transparency, risk-based prioritization, and independent scientific review of GRAS determinations.

The takeaway

GRAS reform is crucial to address the public health concerns around ultra-processed foods, but it must be done in a way that balances improved safety with continued access to beneficial, low-risk ingredients. Radical transparency and risk-based oversight, not a one-size-fits-all regulatory bottleneck, is the path forward.