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Food & Nutrition
HHS Announces Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge Commitments
HHS announced that more than 250 hospitals nationwide have signed the Department’s Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge, committing to serve more nutritious food, strengthen nutrition education, and make healthy eating a greater part of patient care. During the press event, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also unveiled a new badge recognizing hospitals that have signed the Pledge. The design bears the words “Committed to Excellence in Hospital Nutrition,” highlighting participating hospitals’ commitment to making healthier food part of patient care. The full list of hospitals currently participating in the program are now available.
FDA Publishes Draft Guidance on U.S.-Origin Statements on Seafood
FDA published draft guidance, U.S.-Origin Statements on Seafood, to help companies clearly and accurately display U.S. origin statements on U.S. seafood. If finalized, the guidance would provide examples of acceptable labeling statements, such as “U.S.-Caught,” as well as graphics, including American flag imagery, that could be used on qualifying seafood products. The guidance is intended to help U.S. seafood producers distinguish their products in the marketplace while enabling consumers to more easily identify seafood of U.S. origin. The draft guidance was released alongside the White House’s America First Seafood Strategy, which outlines priorities for strengthening the domestic seafood industry. Comments on the draft guidance are due December 28, 2026.
FDA Publishes Infant Formula Nutrient Requirements Proposed Rule
FDA published the proposed rule, Infant Formula Nutrient Requirements, to amend the regulations on nutrient specifications and labeling for infant formula as part of the agency’s phased, comprehensive review of infant formula nutrients. If finalized, the proposed rule would amend the levels of four required nutrients by increasing the minimum levels of iodine and vitamin D, decreasing the minimum levels of vitamin A and manganese, and establishing a maximum level for manganese. Additionally, the rule would change the unit of measure for vitamin A and vitamin D, limit permitted forms of vitamin A, and amend certain labeling requirements. The rule also includes a comprehensive assessment of chloride, selenium, potassium and sodium, with FDA concluding that the current required levels remain appropriate. Accompanying the announcement, FDA released new chemical contaminant testing data showing that most infant formula samples had low or non-detectable levels of contaminants, and launched a new Infant Formula Testing Webpage and an Infant Formula Chemical Contaminants Dashboard. Comments on the proposed rule are due 120 days following formal publication in the Federal Register.
FDA Updates FAQs on Food Allergen Labeling Guidance
FDA updated the agency’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding its revised 5th edition of the January 2025 guidance, Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The update includes two new questions and answers, updated FDA thinking on existing questions, separation of an existing question on tree nut labeling into two questions for clarity, and other editorial changes. The guidance is intended to help the food industry meet the requirements for listing major food allergens (milk, egg, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, sesame) on the labels of FDA-regulated foods.
House Introduces Eliminating Dangerous Preservatives Act
Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced the Eliminating Dangerous Preservatives Act, which would prohibit butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) from food intended for human consumption by classifying food with these ingredients as adulterated under federal law. The legislation would also allow manufacturers two years to reformulate their products before the ban takes effect, direct HHS to issue regulations implementing the new requirements, and require a report to Congress three years after implementation detailing food manufacturers’ reformulation efforts and recommendations for additional legislative or regulatory action.
Tufts University Hosts 2026 Food is Medicine National Summit
The Tufts University Food is Medicine Institute held its fourth annual Food is Medicine National Summit, bringing together federal policymakers, researchers, health care leaders, and community organizations to discuss recent developments and opportunities to advance food is medicine (FIM) initiatives. Day 1 discussions highlighted federal investments in FIM programs, efforts to expand nutrition education and training for health care professionals, and growing partnerships between government agencies, health care systems, and community organizations. Speakers emphasized the increasing momentum behind FIM initiatives at the federal and state levels while acknowledging ongoing challenges related to funding, scalability, affordability, and equitable access to nutritious foods. HHS officials also reaffirmed the administration's commitment to advancing nutrition-focused policies and integrating nutrition into health care as part of its broader Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
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