Sponsor
Nancy Mace
Representative · R-SC
Representative · R-SC
The bill aims to reduce consumer exposure to high-fructose corn syrup and increase congressional oversight of reformulation, but does so at the cost of higher prices and compliance burdens for consumers and food producers and added strain on regulatory and legal resources.
Middle-income and low-income consumers will likely see fewer products with high-fructose corn syrup on store shelves after two years, reducing exposure to that added sugar.
Food manufacturers will have stronger incentives to reformulate products (use alternative sweeteners or reduce added sugars), which could improve product nutrition and create market opportunities for reformulated items.
Congress will receive a comprehensive report within three years documenting industry reformulation and regulatory gaps, improving transparency and enabling targeted legislative or funding responses to protect public health.
Low- and middle-income households could face higher grocery costs because reformulated products without high-fructose corn syrup may be more expensive.
Small and other food manufacturers may incur substantial compliance, reformulation, and inventory-loss costs — and could face additional costs if Congress or regulators adopt new follow-up rules.
Consumers could experience reduced product variety or temporary shortages as items are reformulated or withdrawn from interstate commerce.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Declares foods containing high fructose corn syrup adulterated, banning their interstate sale after two years and requiring an FDA report in three years.
Official title: To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to prohibit high fructose corn syrup in food, and for other purposes.
Introduced September 3, 2026 by Nancy Mace · Last progress September 3, 2026
Declares any food for human consumption that contains high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to be "adulterated" under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, making such foods unlawful in interstate commerce beginning two years after enactment. Requires the HHS Secretary (through the FDA Commissioner) to report to congressional health committees within three years about industry reformulation, regulatory actions, and recommendations for further congressional steps. The law creates a per se federal prohibition on interstate sales of foods containing HFCS after the two-year delay, triggers FDA enforcement authority, and requires a post-implementation review by FDA to describe industry changes and propose next steps.