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American Medical Association Adopts Policy Calling for Stricter Federal Food Additive Rules and GRAS Reform

The American Medical Association wants an independent committee to review additives already in use, including food colors, and wants FDA to review every new GRAS determination.

The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted policy on Nov. 10 calling for stricter federal regulation of food additives, including mandatory safety testing, more Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight and an independent review of ingredients already in the food supply.

TLDR

  • The AMA House of Delegates adopted the policy at its Interim Meeting in Orlando, which ran Nov. 6 to 10.
  • It calls for an independent scientific committee to review additives in use, including food colors, starting with those that pose the greatest risks.
  • It asks that FDA review all new generally recognized as safe (GRAS) determinations, with conflict-of-interest rules for GRAS panels.
  • The AMA cites an estimated 10,000 additives in the U.S. food supply, compared with about 300 allowed in the European Union and about 390 in Canada.

What the AMA Adopted

The policy supports mandatory safety testing of food additives before federal review and approval, according to the AMA’s announcement.

It calls for an independent scientific committee, chosen through a transparent process, to review additives already in use on a regular basis. Food colors are named. The committee would focus first on additives that pose the greatest health risks, and the AMA said priority should go to additives banned in other countries. It would also set a prioritized timeline for regulatory action and create transition pathways for manufacturers to move to safer alternatives.

On GRAS, the policy calls for stronger criteria for GRAS determinations, more transparent evaluation methods, a ban on conflicts of interest for GRAS panel members, and required FDA review of all new GRAS determinations. It also asks that FDA receive the resources to review past determinations as new evidence emerges.

How the U.S. System Differs

The AMA’s report puts the number of additives in the U.S. food supply at an estimated 10,000. It says the European Union allows about 300 and Canada about 390, and that both require safety evaluations before approval.

Under GRAS, manufacturers can conclude on their own that an ingredient is safe without a formal FDA review, the AMA noted. Even after a voluntary notice to FDA, a company can keep marketing the ingredient if it withdraws the notice.

The AMA said research on synthetic food dyes, emulsifiers, artificial sweeteners and high-fructose corn syrup has raised concerns about cancer, allergies, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and that more research is needed.

AMA trustee Amar H. Kelkar, MD, MPH, a hematologist and medical oncologist in Boston, said the current system is not doing enough to protect public health and that reforms are needed.

Where Federal and State Rules Stand

FDA proposed in August to make GRAS notification mandatory for human and animal food substances. Comments on that proposed rule close Dec. 9, 2026.

In New York, the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act (S1239/A1556) passed the state Senate and Assembly in the spring. It would require companies to report substances marketed as self-affirmed GRAS and would ban Red No. 3, propylparaben and potassium bromate as food ingredients. The bill awaits action by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Why It Matters

The AMA represents physicians, not regulators, so its policy does not change any rule. It does put the national physicians’ organization on record behind GRAS changes that overlap with FDA’s proposal, and behind a standing review of additives already on the market, food colors included. For food makers, that adds medical weight to the push for ingredient reviews while the federal GRAS comment period is still open.

Sources: American Medical Association press release (Nov. 10, 2026); AMA, “AMA tackles food additives, sunscreen gaps and e-bike risks” (Jennifer Lubell, Nov. 10, 2026); Keller and Heckman, PackagingLaw.com (Apr. 23, 2026); Venable on FDA’s proposed GRAS rule.