Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025

This bill, called the Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025, would make the Food and Drug Administration regularly re-check the safety of chemicals used in food. Starting in 2026, the FDA’s Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation must reassess at least 10 substances or classes every three years. These include food additives, color additives, substances “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), prior‑sanctioned substances, and food‑contact substances. The FDA must share the results with the public.

If a reassessment shows a substance is unsafe, the FDA must update or repeal its approvals, post GRAS decisions online (including any safe‑use conditions), revoke any prior‑sanctioned uses that may harm health, or end a food‑contact notification that is not safe. The FDA will choose which substances to review based on public health need. The first set may include: tert‑butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), titanium dioxide, Red dye 40, yellow dye 5, yellow dye 6, blue dye 01, blue dye 02, green dye 03, perchlorate, BHA, BHT, trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, benzene, ethylene chloride, propyl gallate, sodium benzoate, and sodium nitrite. A Food Advisory Committee must also be re‑established within 180 days to advise on standards and methods for this work.

Key points

• Who is involved: FDA’s Office of Food Chemical Safety, Dietary Supplements, and Innovation; FDA Food Advisory Committee.
• What changes: Regular safety reassessments; public posting of results; updates or rollbacks of approvals when a substance is found unsafe.
• When: Reassess at least every three years starting in 2026; advisory committee re‑established within 180 days of enactment.