The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday detailed proposed requirements compelling food manufacturers to submit expanded safety data for chemical additives and ingredients. The measure is part of a broader push by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to overhaul the American diet and targets the "Generally Recognized as Safe" designation, which lets manufacturers introduce additives without formal FDA review.

The agency said the measures aim to close a decades-old loophole allowing companies to self-certify ingredients as safe. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the changes would give the agency greater visibility into thousands of substances currently in the food supply.

Under the plan, companies would be required to notify the FDA and provide supporting studies before marketing new ingredients, according to a statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services. The framework would prioritise additives common in ultra-processed foods, including certain dyes, emulsifiers and preservatives.

Consumer advocacy groups, including the Center for Science in the Public Interest, welcomed the direction but warned that voluntary elements could weaken enforcement. Industry bodies such as the Consumer Brands Association cautioned that new data mandates could raise compliance costs and disrupt supply chains.

The FDA said it would open a public comment period before finalising any rule, a process expected to run for months. The proposal aligns with earlier commitments by the administration to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes and scrutinise ingredients linked to chronic disease.