The recent and drastic Reduction In Force (RIF) at the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is already having ripple effects not just internally, but across the broader regulatory and life sciences communities and the public at large. While much of the focus has …
Last June, the United States Supreme Court issued four landmark decisions that curbed executive agency powers. Those decisions are changing the way agencies, including FDA, exercise their rulemaking and enforcement authorities. Regardless of your position on the correctness of the holdings or the reasoning behind …
That’s a play on an old acronym, in service of a point. A few weeks ago, HHS released a press release stating that FDA had been directed “to explore potential rulemaking to revise its Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Final Rule and related guidance …
Trade and national press have reported that recent changes in FDA staffing levels have already led to slower responses to calls and emails. According to reports, which were published before the most recent reports of HHS staff level reductions and tumultuous changes in leadership, FDA …
On March 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched a significant initiative called Operation Stork Speed to bolster the availability and safety of infant formula in the United States (link, link). This initiative …
Our good friends Virginia and West Virginia have become the first states in the nation to restrict the availability of foods containing certain synthetic colors (or in FDA parlance, certain colors subject to certification). You can read more about the particulars here and here. Although …
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. Director Ricardo Carvajal will be moderating a session at the Food and Drug Law Institute’s (“FDLI’s”) upcoming 1-day conference on Food and Dietary Supplement Safety and Regulation, scheduled to take place on March 25. Join us for timely, in-depth discussions …
Readers of this blog likely are familiar with the ongoing, often contentious battle over the labeling of plant-based foods (see, e.g., here, here, and here). Nearly two years after FDA issued draft guidance on Labeling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements, on January 6, …
On January 6, 2025, FDA released two final guidance documents on food allergens: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Allergens, Including the Food Allergen Labeling Requirements of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (Edition 5), and Evaluating the Public Health Importance of Food Allergens Other …
As we previously reported in 2022, FDA published a proposed rule defining the nutrient content claim “healthy.” The proposed revised rule constituted a radical change from the original definition of healthy, which focused on the presence of individual (beneficial) nutrients. In contrast, the 2022 proposed …
Among the more interesting developments in the recent election was the emergence of Robert Kennedy as a prominent figure in the MAGA movement – and the collateral emergence of the MAHA movement (Make America Healthy Again). As crisply laid out in short YouTube video, MAHA …
As readers of this blog know, there is a lot of contention about the naming of alternative protein products (APPs), including both plant-based and cell-cultured alternatives for (traditional) animal products. The animal product industry, particularly the beef industry and the dairy industry, has challenged naming …
For any of our readers seeking recommendations on which drinks pair well with turkey this Thanksgiving, certain fruit-flavored beverages may be off the table. Earlier this month, FDA issued a proposed rule that would revoke 21 C.F.R. § 180.30, its interim authorization of the use of …
Hyman, Phelps & McNamara, P.C. (“HP&M”) is proud to announce the firm has been selected to the 2024 edition of Best Law Firms. Firms included in the 2024 Best Law Firms ranking are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. To …
On October 31, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a proposed rule that would amend its prior notice regulations to add new information requirements and deadlines. More specifically, the proposed rule, if finalized, would: Amend 21 C.F.R. § 1.281(b)(10) to require that prior …
