Oluwaremilekun Mehner on Food Safety

Citizen Petition Calls on FDA to Rethink Refined Carbs

Last week, former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner David Kessler submitted a citizen petition urging FDA to revoke the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of refined carbohydrates used in industrial food...more

8/13/2025 / Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) , Food and Drug Act , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Manufacturers , Food Safety , GRAS , Regulatory Reform , USDA

FDA, HHS and USDA Serve Up Ultra-Processed Food RFI

On July 25, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), unveiled the highly anticipated joint request...more

7/25/2025 / Comment Period , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Labeling , Food Safety , Proposed Rules , Public Comment , Public Health , Regulatory Requirements , USDA

FDA Green Lights Another Natural Food Color

This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted another color additive petition, approving the use of Gardenia (Genipin) in various food and beverage products. This marks the fourth naturally-derived color...more

7/17/2025 / Consumer Protection Laws , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Labeling , Food Manufacturers , Food Safety , Manufacturers , Public Health , Regulatory Requirements , Trump Administration

MAHA Commission Report on Children’s Health Takes Aim at Ultra-Processed Foods and Medication Practices, Among Other Targets

Yesterday, the White House’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, led by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. released its inaugural health report titled, Make Our...more

5/27/2025 / Artificial Intelligence , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Environmental Policies , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Safety , Machine Learning , Prescription Drugs , Public Health , Toxic Chemicals

FDA Grants Three Natural Food Additive Petitions

On May 9, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted three color additive petitions, approving two new colorings and expanding one existing approval. These approvals come after the agency’s announcement last...more

5/13/2025 / FDA Approval , Final Rules , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Labeling , Food Manufacturers , Food Safety , New Guidance , New Regulations , Proposed Rules , Regulatory Agencies

HHS, FDA Announce Multiple Initiatives on Food Safety, Quality and Compliance Fronts

In the past week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced three new initiatives related to food safety and food supply chain transparency....more

3/25/2025 / Comment Period , Compliance , Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) , Final Rules , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Safety , FSMA , Public Health , Regulatory Agenda , Regulatory Requirements , Supply Chain , Transparency

In Waning Days of the Current Administration, FDA Announces Red No. 3 Ban

On January 15, 2025, FDA announced an order revoking the listings providing for the use of the color additive FD&C Red No. 3 in both foods (including dietary supplements) and ingested drugs. The order is in response to a 2022...more

1/17/2025 / Compliance , Drug Safety , Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) , Final Rules , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Safety , Life Sciences , Pharmaceutical Industry , Public Health , Risk Assessment

FDA Issues RFI on PFAS in Seafood

On November 19, 2024, FDA issued a request for information (RFI) on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in seafood. Specifically, the agency is seeking scientific data and information from the seafood industry and other...more

12/4/2024 / Comment Period , Contamination , Environmental Policies , Fishing Industry , Food and Drug Administration (FDA) , Food Safety , Food Supply , Hazardous Substances , Infrastructure , PFAS , Public Health , Regulatory Agenda , Toxic Chemicals , Toxic Exposure

Oluwaremilekun Mehner

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

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