Federal: S3122

Bill Summary

US S3122, the Better Food Disclosure Act of 2025, requires food manufacturers to notify the FDA about substances they use that are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), establishing a publicly accessible FDA list of all such substances within two years of enactment. Manufacturers must submit notices within two years for substances already in use or 120 days before first use for new substances. The FDA has 180 days to review submissions, after which substances are automatically added to the list if not disapproved. The bill also grants the FDA authority to reevaluate previously approved GRAS substances if safety concerns emerge, with any reevaluation conducted by career FDA scientists through standard notice-and-comment rulemaking.

Why It Matters to MAHA

This bill directly advances MAHA's core commitment to transparency in healthcare and food safety by creating the first comprehensive public database of GRAS substances currently used in the US food supply. For decades, manufacturers have used the GRAS loophole to bypass rigorous FDA review, keeping the composition of food products hidden from both regulators and consumers. By requiring disclosure and systematic FDA review with the possibility of reevaluation when safety data emerges, S3122 restores the FDA's capacity to protect public health while maintaining patient and consumer autonomy through informed choice. The bill's requirement that reevaluations follow scientific rigor and transparent procedures ensures that decisions are evidence-based rather than industry-driven, aligning perfectly with MAHA's demand for integrity in food regulation.