Food regulation update April 6: The latest on MAHA and related developments

CHICAGO, April 6, 2026 — IFMA The Food Away from Home Association launched a new benefit for members: A roundup of regulatory developments affecting the food-away-from-home business, including policy changes that are part of the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. The report is compiled and written by Dr. Joy Dubost, a renowned food scientist and registered dietitian with strong knowledge of what’s happening on the regulatory front.

 

MAHA

Surgeon General – President Trump hinted at dropping Casey Means as nominee for Surgeon General as the wellness influencer faces opposition from Senate Republicans. We have been waiting for votes to confirm her appointment, however this has all but stalled since the hearing nearly a month ago. “I don’t know how she’s doing in the nomination process, I’m more focused on Iran,” President Trump said. “But something like that would be possible. We certainly have a lot of ... great candidates for that.” Her nomination has not been popular and has run up against verbal opposition including health authorities and former Surgeon Generals including Jerome Adams, who served during Trump’s first term.

Hospital Nutrition Commitments – HHS Secretary Kennedy celebrated a new hospital initiative to improve nutrition-driven patient care and to directly connect farmers to hospital food systems as part of his nationwide Take Back Your Health tour.

Secretary Kennedy announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Quality and Safety Special Alert, which is periodically issued. The alert directs hospitals to follow the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans when planning patient meals. This represents one of the first strategic moves the administration has made toward applying the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to government programs. The alert stated, “These updates reflect the latest federal nutrition policy and are encouraged to be used to inform patient nutrition services and related hospital protocols. Given the scale of Medicare’s investment in inpatient care, CMS has a responsibility to ensure that hospital food and nutrition services support high-quality, evidence-based care and improved health outcomes.” 

The America First Policy Institute hosted the event at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Florida, where Secretary Kennedy joined CMS Administrator Dr. Oz in a roundtable with health care executives and providers. Their discussion focused on pediatric care, preventing chronic disease, and how nutrition affects health outcomes, followed by a press conference.

"Quality health care starts with quality food. The steps we’re taking will boost patient outcomes, help prevent chronic diseases, and Make America Healthy Again,” said Secretary Kennedy.

At the leadership roundtable, Secretary Kennedy and Administrator Oz announced the CMS Special Alert, emphasizing hospitals’ responsibility to deliver high-quality nutrition care. The guidance instructs hospitals to align their food services with the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, highlighting whole, nutrient-rich foods and adequate protein, while limiting ultra-processed items and added sugars. 

More specifically the following was noted:

• Limiting ultra-processed food options for patients
• Elimination of sugar-sweetened beverages unless clinically appropriate
• Elimination of refined grains and replacing them with 100 percent whole grains
• Prioritizing minimally processed protein sources, including plant-based options
• Emphasizing vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, seeds, seafood and healthy fats
• Ensuring baked, broiled, roasted, stir-fried or grilled vegetables and proteins – and eliminating deep fried cooking methods
• Eliminating processed meats and foods high in added sugars, sodium and artificial additives
• Ensuring meals contain less than 10 grams of added sugar, unless clinically appropriate.

In addition, specific examples of meals were provided including:

• Steel-cut oats with berries and nuts (instead of cereal with added sugar)
• Plain yogurt with fresh fruit (instead of flavored yogurt with added sugars)
• Grilled salmon with quinoa and roasted vegetables
• Lentil or bean-based entrée with leafy greens and olive oil vinaigrette
• Replacing processed deli meats with “freshly prepared lean protein options”
• Serve water (plain or infused), unsweetened tea, milk or coffee with avoidance of routine offerings of sugar-sweetened beverages or juice

The memorandum also reinforces current Medicare Conditions of Participation, including:

• Meeting individual patient nutritional needs
• Maintaining dietitian oversight
• Keeping therapeutic diet manuals up to date
• Integrating nutrition into quality and performance improvement programs
CMS further encouraged hospitals to update menus, procurement practices, and nutrition protocols to reflect federal dietary guidelines. According to KFF which is a leading health policy information organization, Medicare covers about 25% of inpatient hospital spending, while Medicaid accounts for roughly 19%. Given that healthcare represents the largest employment sector in the U.S., this policy could extend beyond patient meals impacting food offerings for employees, staff, and visitors as well.

"Food should not be an afterthought in health care," said CMS Administrator Dr. Oz. "When hospitals match meal trays to patient charts, patients have a better shot at faster recovery, fewer complications, and long-term health. Connecting hospitals with local farmers isn’t just about better meals; it’s about treating nutrition as essential medicine.”

“This is not something we need to force hospitals to do,” Kennedy said. “They want it. We have talked with them. They need the incentive. This is going to help them with their procurement companies, the fact that it is now essentially a federal mandate.”

In addition, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital signed a groundbreaking pledge to advance nutrition through direct partnerships with Florida farmers, bringing fresh, locally sourced food from fields to patient trays. Created by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences, this partnership helps hospitals source more food from local producers, strengthens patient nutrition strategies, and removes procurement barriers that once limited farm-to-hospital sourcing. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the first to sign the pledge, setting a standard for others nationwide.
This initiative supports:

• Expanding farm-to-hospital purchasing and streamlined sourcing for local producers
• Workforce and training programs tied to nutrition services and food preparation
• Medically tailored meals for specific patient groups
• Partnerships to improve food quality and nutrient density

FDA

FDA Briefs Lawmakers on Food Policy Priorities - Leadership at the FDA briefed members of Congress recently on its evolving food policy agenda, signaling a notable shift toward nutrition, transparency, and supply chain resilience as central pillars of its 2026 strategy. At the forefront of the discussion was infant formula safety, an issue that continues to carry urgency following recent supply disruptions and contamination concerns. FDA leaders emphasized efforts to strengthen oversight while ensuring a more resilient and reliable supply chain.

Another major focus is food labeling reform, including the potential advancement of front-of-package (labeling. These efforts aim to improve consumer understanding and decision-making, though debates remain about the most effective format—particularly as alternative models like “traffic light” labeling continue to surface in policy discussions.

Perhaps most consequential is the agency’s work on defining ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Establishing a formal definition could serve as a foundation for future regulatory actions, from labeling requirements to broader nutrition policy initiatives tied to chronic disease prevention. This aligns with the broader MAHA agenda, which is increasingly shaping the national food policy conversation.

The FDA also highlighted plans to expand inspections of food facilities, reinforcing its commitment to food safety and compliance. Alongside this, enhanced seafood safety measures are being prioritized to address contamination risks and protect public health.

Together, these priorities reflect the FDA’s broader Human Foods Program strategy, which places increased emphasis on oversight of food chemicals and additives, including renewed scrutiny of substances previously considered safe under the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) framework. The agency is also leaning into consumer-facing transparency tools as part of its effort to modernize food regulation.

The takeaway from the briefing is clear: food policy is no longer just about safety—it is increasingly being positioned as a key lever in addressing chronic disease and improving public health. With initiatives spanning UPF definitions, labeling reform, and ingredient oversight, the FDA is laying the groundwork for a potentially transformative period in U.S. food regulation. For stakeholders across the food industry, the message is equally clear: the intersection of science, policy, and consumer perception will matter more than ever in the months ahead.

USDA

Campaign for “Product of USA” Label - USDA announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to promote the voluntary "Product of USA” labeling standards that took effect on January 1, 2026. The campaign is aimed at both consumers and meat, poultry, and egg producers to increase understanding and adoption of the label.

Higher-quality meat in schools - A MAHA focused coalition of parents, livestock producers, and nutrition organizations is urging USDA via a letter to Secretary Rollins to focus on improving meat and dairy quality in school meals before raising protein requirements. They argue that increasing protein without better sourcing could increase reliance on industrial livestock, which uses routine antibiotics and growth-promoting drugs. The group points out students already meet new protein targets and are more likely lacking fiber and overall diet quality. The coalition recommends maintaining current protein standards, prioritizing meat and dairy produced without unnecessary additives, expanding local food procurement, and investing in kitchen capacity. After these steps, USDA can reconsider any changes to protein requirements.
 
EPA Announcement - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signaled a major shift by adding microplastics, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and pharmaceuticals to its federal contaminant watchlist under the Safe Drinking Water Act. While not a ban, this move formally puts these substances on a path toward monitoring—and potentially future regulation. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the move sends “a clear message: we will follow the science, we will pursue answers, and we will hold ourselves to the highest standards to protect the health of every American family.” The implications for food packaging could be significant. Microplastics are increasingly linked to the breakdown of plastic packaging, while PFAS have historically been used in grease-resistant food wrappers and containers. By prioritizing these contaminants, regulators are effectively acknowledging that food-contact materials are a meaningful source of chemical exposure. This aligns closely with the broader agenda outlined by Secretary Kennedy and MAHA leadership, which emphasizes measuring cumulative exposure and addressing the full food ecosystem—from ingredients to packaging.

At the core of this movement is a call for “radical transparency in the food supply.” That means not only clearer labeling of what’s in food, but also greater visibility into how products are processed, packaged, and potentially exposed to chemicals along the way.
While no single packaging rule was issued today, the direction is clear:

• Packaging is moving into the regulatory spotlight
• Chemical exposure is being viewed more holistically
• Transparency is becoming a central policy lever
For the food industry, this marks a shift from focusing solely on formulation to considering the entire product lifecycle. For policymakers, it signals that the next wave of food regulation may extend well beyond the ingredient list.