INFORM February 2025 Volume 36 (2)

28 • inform February 2025, Vol. 36 (2)

Are federal regulations coming for the food industry? Regulatory Review is a regular column featuring updates on regulatory matters concerning oils- and fats-related industries.

Soon after the election, the president announced that he chose Robert F. Kennedy, Jr to lead the Department. On accepting, Kennedy announced his intention to root out the corruption that he believes exists in government and public health, saying that regulatory agencies overseeing food and drugs have been working with corporate America to enhance profits rather than to benefit consumers. Among several questionable healthcare claims that Kennedy promotes, he says Americans are being poisoned by seed oils. This accusation echoes a growing movement among wellness influencers that seed oils cause diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases and they should be eliminated from our food systems (https://www.seedoilfreecertified.com). In accordance with their belief, these groups have attached “the hateful eight” moniker to canola oil, corn oil, sunflower oil and other refined oils made from the seeds of certain plants,

Rebecca Guenard

All eyes will be on cabinet appointments now that Inauguration Day, January 20, has passed and the president-elect has taken office. AOCS members will likely be interested in the appointment process for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that has authority over the Food and Drug Administra tion (FDA), which regulates about 80 percent of the nation’s food supply.