INFORM February 2026

36 INFORM FEBRUARY 2026 , VOL. 37, NO. 2

NEW GROUP PUSHES FOR FEDERAL FOOD LEGISLATION

Regulatory Review features updates on regulatory matters concerning oils- and fats-related industries.

Rebecca Guenard

In October, a coalition of food manufacturers banded together to establish a group focused on replacing state dependent ultra-processed food legislation with a uniform national regulation. Americans for Ingredient Transparency (AFIT) is a 501(c) (4) nonprofit “committed to advocating for federal legislation that ushers in one national standard for ingredient transparency that applies consistent, science- and risk-based principles to give Americans everywhere confidence in the safety of their foods, beverages, and personal care products,” according to their press release. In an emailed statement to The New York Times , Julie Gunlock, a senior adviser for AFIT, said: “Americans for Ingredient Transparency was formed because every American deserves the same ingredient regulation and labeling, no matter their ZIP code.” In the same article, Stuart Pape, a former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lawyer who now represents food companies and their trade groups, said: “I think the food

industry has no choice. It cannot sit back and just take body blows and shrug their shoulders when state after state enacts inconsistent laws that make doing business impossible. US states are increasingly proposing and adopting stricter, ingredient-specific laws that vary from state to-state. The California Food

Safety Act, enacted in 2023, bans the use of four specific additives. Texas passed State Bill 25 last March, which requires the food industry to remove 40 chemicals and additives from processed foods or add a warning label. In addition, West Virgina banned seven artificial food colors and additives that law makers say had potential health risks. In response, the