Regulatory Update 2024

Keeping up with the ever-changing, ever-complicated regulatory landscape can be a challenge, especially with so many changes on the horizon. What regulatory issues should food and beverage companies be aware of going into 2024? In this blog, our regulatory expert, Ashley Brooks, breaks it down for you, providing her insights into important changes and updates that are anticipated in 2024.

As we begin a new year, here are the top 5 regulatory issues that ingredient suppliers and food manufacturers need to watch out for in 2024.  This includes both existing and pending federal regulatory actions affecting the food industry:

1. Voluntary Guidance on Sodium Reductions
2. Salt Substitutes in Standardized Foods
3. Updates to the Bioengineered Foods List
4. USDA School Nutrition Standards
5. “Healthy” Definition

Here’s what you need to know about each of these issues.

Voluntary Guidance on Sodium Reductions

Guidance on sodium reductions was issued October 2021, and final guidance on long-term targets are anticipated in 2024. The guidance is intended to provide measurable voluntary short-term (2.5 year) goals for sodium content in commercially processed, packaged, and prepared foods to reduce excess sodium intake. Read the FDA’s guidance document here

Use of Salt Substitutes in Standardized Foods

 The proposed rule issued in April 2023 amends the standard of identity (SOI) regulations that specify salt (sodium chloride) as a required or optional ingredient in order to permit the use of salt substitutes in standardized foods and reduce the sodium content. Read the FDA’s proposed rule here.

Updates to Bioengineered Foods List

On November 29, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) published a final rule to update the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard’s List of Bioengineered Foods. One new product will be added to the list (sugarcane), and one product currently on the list (squash), will be amended to better reflect only BE varieties.

USDA School Nutrition Standards

The rule proposed in February 2022 contains revisions to school nutrition standards based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, including new added sugar standards for school lunch and breakfast programs. It also proposes gradually reducing school meal sodium limits. The final rule is anticipated in April 2024. Read the FDA’s proposed rule here.

“Healthy” Definition

A proposed rule about food labeling claims was issued in September 2022, and the final rule is anticipated in April 2025. This action, if finalized, will revise the criteria for when foods can be labeled with the nutrient content claim “healthy” on their packaging. This proposed rule would align the definition of the “healthy” claim with current nutrition science, the updated Nutrition Facts label, and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Read the FDA’s proposed rule here.

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