{"id":2160,"date":"2026-05-08T07:15:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T07:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=2160"},"modified":"2026-05-08T07:15:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T07:15:23","slug":"fdas-new-playbook-lots-of-media-announcements-but-not-much-rulemaking-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=2160","title":{"rendered":"FDA\u2019s new playbook: Lots of media announcements but not much rulemaking"},"content":{"rendered":"

By MATTHEW PERRONE, AP Health Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON (AP) \u2014 In one of his first major announcements as health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called a news conference to unveil a plan to \u201cphase out\u201d synthetic food dyes.<\/p>

Read more Agency will move forward with plans to propose weakening some Biden-era PFAS limits, official says<\/a><\/p>\n

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary opened the event by saying his agency was \u201cremoving all petroleum-based food dyes\u201d from U.S. foods. But the specifics did not become clear until the final minutes, when Kennedy revealed that the government had \u201can understanding\u201d with foodmakers to voluntarily stop using the chemicals. A \u201cnational standard and timeline\u201d for completing the process would soon follow, according to an FDA statement.<\/p>\n

More than a year later, the FDA has not introduced any of the detailed, scientific regulatory documents needed to establish a safety issue with the half-dozen widely used dyes. Instead, the FDA maintains an online list of manufacturers that have pledged to phase out the chemicals.<\/p>\n

The administration\u2019s handling of food dyes reflects its approach to a number of health priorities. Instead of using the time-consuming process of federal rulemaking, which can stretch across multiple administrations, officials working under Republican President Donald Trump have found a quicker approach: Announce sweeping changes first and deal with the regulations later.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt speaks volumes that the administration has yet to produce a document articulating the scientific basis for the voluntary request,\u201d said Susan Mayne, a Yale University public health expert and former director of the FDA\u2019s food program. Meanwhile, the FDA\u2019s website continues to carry the government\u2019s longtime conclusion that \u201cthe totality of scientific evidence\u201d does not show a link between synthetic dyes and health problems.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf FDA has changed its position, then FDA should document why and pursue a ban,\u201d Mayne said.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Kennedy said the administration has used \u201cmultiple approaches\u201d to quickly make more progress on food dyes \u201cthan at any point in the past.\u201d<\/p>

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cFDA engaged industry early in this effort to encourage timely changes while continuing its scientific and regulatory work,\u201d said Emily Hilliard of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. \u201cThe agency maintains its role in evaluating safety and will continue to use its regulatory authorities, guidance, and review processes as appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The lack of initiative in drafting new regulations is particularly striking at the FDA. Under federal law, the agency is supposed to refrain from making major policy announcements in news releases, speeches or other informal settings.<\/p>\n

But a string of changes from Makary and his deputies have appeared first in articles in subscription-only medical journal articles, television interviews or online posts, including new restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines and other therapies.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, those changes would be published first in the Federal Register, giving consumers, experts, and companies a chance to comment and suggest revisions to FDA proposals.<\/p>

\n<\/div>\n