Food regulation update July 24: The latest on MAHA and related developments

CHICAGO, July 20, 2026 - The following is a weekly summary of federal regulatory and policy developments affecting the food and nutrition industry, covering actions and announcements from FDA, USDA, HHS, OMB, and related agencies. The report is compiled and written by NJOY as part of the NJOY Health & Nutrition Regulatory Recap series.

USDA

School Meals Proposed Rule

The USDA has advanced its long-awaited proposed rule updating school meal nutrition standards to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for regulatory review which is the final step before the proposed rule is released for public comment. According to the regulatory notice, the proposal would revise meal pattern and program monitoring requirements across the Child Nutrition Programs to align with the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans while addressing operational challenges faced by state agencies and local school meal operators. USDA states the changes are intended to improve the nutritional quality of school meals, simplify program administration, reduce food waste, increase operational efficiency, and make it easier for schools to provide nutritious meals to children and adult participants. The proposal arrives later than initially anticipated as it was expected to be released in early spring this year.

OMB review is intended to be completed within 90 days, although reviews often extend beyond that timeframe. Once OMB clears the proposal, USDA will publish the proposed rule in the Federal Register for public comment. After reviewing and responding to stakeholder comments, USDA would issue a final rule, a process that is expected to take considerable time before any new requirements are implemented in schools.

 

FEDERAL

Labeling of UPFs

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 12-10 to advance the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act (S. 5026), legislation introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would establish new federal requirements for labeling ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and expand “nutrition-related consumer protections”. The bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.

A central provision of the legislation would require the FDA to establish a science-based definition of UPF through the federal rulemaking process. Rather than adopting an existing classification system such as NOVA, FDA would be directed to develop its own definition based on factors including industrial processing methods, the use of ingredients not commonly found in home kitchens, cosmetic additives such as colors, flavors, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and sweeteners, and the available scientific evidence linking food processing to adverse health outcomes. As a reminder, FDA's approach to defining UPF remains uncertain. Although various sources have referenced either a formal regulatory definition or agency guidance, neither initiative appears in the latest FDA Unified Agenda or Guidance Agenda, creating continued ambiguity regarding the agency's timeline and regulatory approach. This bill would also require FDA to develop a front-of-package disclosure for foods meeting the agency's definition of an UPF. In addition, products high in added sugars, saturated fat, sodium, or containing high-intensity sweeteners would be required to carry front-of-package warning labels. The legislation also includes provisions to restrict the advertising of certain foods and beverages to children, directs the NIH to expand research on the health effects of UPFs, and requires CDC to launch a national public education campaign focused on childhood nutrition and chronic disease prevention.

Although the legislation faces additional hurdles before becoming law, its advancement reflects growing bipartisan interest in addressing the role of diet and food processing in chronic disease. If enacted, FDA would be responsible for developing the definition of UPFs and implementing the labeling requirements through future rulemaking, providing stakeholders with opportunities to comment on the proposed regulations before they are finalized. If ultimately enacted, the Childhood Diabetes Reduction Act would represent one of the most significant expansions of FDA's food labeling authority in decades and could substantially reshape front-of-package labeling requirements for the U.S. food industry.

FDA

Orange Juice SOI

HHS Secretary Kennedy announced that the FDA has finalized a long-awaited update to the federal Standard of Identity (SOI) for pasteurized orange juice, marking the first major revision to the standard since it was established in 1963. The final rule lowers the minimum Brix requirement, a measure of natural sugar content from 10.5° to 10° and allows up to 15% mandarin (Citrus reticulata) or hybrid citrus juice in pasteurized orange juice. According to the Administration, the changes reflect the impact of citrus greening disease, hurricanes, and other environmental challenges that have reduced the natural sugar content of Florida oranges while maintaining the product's quality and safety.

Announced in Lakeland, Florida, Secretary Kennedy said the updated standard will reduce reliance on imported juice, strengthen domestic citrus production, and save the industry an estimated $50 million annually by removing outdated regulatory barriers. Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas added that the rule modernizes federal regulations to better align with current agricultural conditions while supporting U.S. growers and manufacturers.

The action is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to review and modernize more than 250 FDA Standards of Identity to ensure food regulations remain science-based, relevant, and responsive to today's agricultural and consumer landscape.

FDA Commissioner Search

The Trump administration appears to be moving closer to naming a permanent FDA commissioner nearly two months after former Commissioner Martin Makary's departure. According to multiple media reports, three physicians are under consideration: Dr. Heidi Overton, a White House health policy adviser; Dr. Stephen Ferrara, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs; and Dr. Jeff Vacirca, CEO of New York Cancer & Blood Specialists. In the meantime, Acting FDA Commissioner Kyle Diamantas is expected to continue leading the agency under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act through early December, with the possibility of an extension if a formal nominee is submitted.

Diamantas Remarks

FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas used his remarks at the 2026 Reagan-Udall Foundation Annual Public Meeting to outline the agency's strategic direction, emphasizing scientific integrity, innovation, and strengthening the United States' leadership in biomedical research. Rather than announcing new regulatory initiatives, Diamantas focused on FDA's broader mission of accelerating access to safe, effective, and affordable products while maintaining a predictable, science-based regulatory framework. A central theme of the speech was FDA's commitment to making decisions grounded in data and "gold standard science” which is something Secretary Kennedy repeatedly states in his public remarks. Diamantas also highlighted Operation TrialBlazer, the agency's initiative to modernize clinical trials, accelerate medical product development, and enhance U.S. competitiveness in biomedical innovation.

Notably, the remarks included no major announcements related to the Human Foods Program. Topics such as ultra-processed foods, GRAS reform, front-of-package nutrition labeling, food chemical reviews, and implementation of the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were not discussed. Instead, food and nutrition were referenced only in the broader context of promoting wellness and helping build a healthier America.

MAHA

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Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge

NJOY Health & Nutrition had the opportunity to attend a media only, closed event at Tampa General Hospital (TGH) where approximately 75 invited guests including members of the media, hospital leadership, healthcare professionals, and TGH employees gathered as HHS Secretary Kennedy and USDA Secretary Rollins recognized the first hospital in the U.S. for signing the Trump Administration's Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge. The event showcased Tampa General's ongoing transformation of hospital dining and reinforced the Administration's broader MAHA initiative.

Joined by Tampa General President and CEO John Couris, Vice President of Operations Donna Tope, celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian, and hospital staff, Secretary Kennedy participated in the ceremonial signing where Zakarian helped redesign the menu in 2025 around a "food is medicine" philosophy.
"Hospitals exist to heal people, and the food they serve should help patients recover, not contribute to the chronic disease that brought so many there in the first place," Kennedy said. "Every patient deserves real, nutritious food that supports healing."

Throughout his remarks, Kennedy repeatedly returned to what he described as the central message of the Administration's nutrition agenda: "Eat real food." He characterized the recently released Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) as a significant departure from previous editions, explaining that the nearly 450-page guidelines developed during the prior administration had been replaced with a concise, science-based document designed to provide practical guidance that consumers could easily understand. He noted that each recommendation is supported by scientific literature and argued that the simplified approach better reflects the evidence on healthy eating.

Kennedy also criticized what he described as decades of excessive influence by the processed food industry on the nation's food system and nutrition policy. He argued that market consolidation has disadvantaged both farmers and consumers by encouraging production and consumption of highly processed foods, contributing to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. He emphasized that improving Americans' health requires shifting federal nutrition programs toward minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods while strengthening connections with local farmers and ranchers. He praised the quality of the meal prepared at Tampa General, noting that it rivaled food served in many restaurants and challenged the longstanding perception of "hospital food" as unhealthy or unappealing.

Kennedy highlighted the Administration's broader effort to align federally supported nutrition programs including school meals, military dining facilities, WIC, SNAP, and now hospitals with the new DGA. He noted that USDA serves millions of school meals each day and described these institutions as important opportunities to reshape the nation's dietary culture by increasing access to fresh, locally sourced foods. He also pointed to recent improvements in military dining facilities as evidence that healthier food can increase participation and improve satisfaction.

Turning specifically to hospitals, Kennedy acknowledged that Tampa General had already begun transforming its food service before the Administration launched the Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge. He praised the hospital's leadership for demonstrating that large health systems can successfully transition to serving fresh, nutrient-dense meals while reducing reliance on highly processed foods. He suggested Tampa General would serve as a national model, with its leadership helping other hospital systems implement similar changes through peer-to-peer collaboration and the sharing of best practices.

Secretary Rollins reinforced the connection between agriculture and public health, emphasizing that improving nutrition begins with America's farmers and ranchers. "Real food starts with America's farmers and ranchers, who produce the safest, most abundant food supply in the world," Rollins said. "President Trump has made it clear that making America healthy again begins with putting wholesome, American-grown food back at the center of our institutions." Rollins described the collaboration between USDA and HHS as an unprecedented partnership that fundamentally reshaped the DGA around the principle of eating real food. She acknowledged that while the message may seem like common sense, it represented a significant shift from decades of previous federal nutrition guidance. She emphasized that agriculture must play a central role in improving the nation's health and argued that supporting American farmers and ranchers is essential to reversing the country's chronic disease trends.

The visit reflects the Administration's expanding strategy to embed nutrition across federally supported settings. In recent weeks, HHS and USDA have launched the voluntary Make Hospital Food Healthier Pledge and announced the Make School Meals Healthier Pledge, while continuing efforts to align nutrition programs with the newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Although the hospital pledge is voluntary, the event made clear that the Administration views hospitals as an important starting point for advancing their broader nutrition agenda. By showcasing Tampa General's experience, federal officials hope other hospitals will adopt similar approaches that prioritize minimally processed, nutrient-dense foods as part of patient care.

MAHA on Tik Tok

HHS Secretary Kennedy announced that MAHA will now be on Tik Tok. He will be showcasing his travels across the country on his Take Back Your Health Tour to advance President Trump's Make America Healthy Again agenda.

 

HHS

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Research Grants Cancelled

HHS announced it has terminated more than $60 million in previously committed health research funding, affecting dozens of multi-year grants administered through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). According to POLITICO, researchers and academic institutions received notices that continuation funding for existing awards had been canceled after months of uncertainty, bringing many ongoing projects to an abrupt halt. The cancelled grants supported health services research, career development awards, and institutional training programs focused on improving healthcare delivery, patient safety, and implementation science. Many projects had already recruited patients, hired research staff, or established training programs, meaning the cancellations could have immediate impacts on both ongoing research and the future health workforce. At least 67 grants have reportedly been terminated, with additional cancellations possible.

HHS stated that it is redirecting resources toward administration priorities, including patient safety, nutrition, autism, artificial intelligence, telehealth, long COVID, antibiotic resistance, and addressing the overmedication of children. However, several researchers have argued that some of the terminated projects were already aligned with these priorities, raising questions about how funding decisions are being evaluated. The action comes as the administration pursues broader changes to federal grant oversight. The Office of Management and Budget have proposed revisions to the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) that would expand the authority of political appointees to review and terminate federal grants based on administration priorities. Those proposed changes have generated significant opposition from universities, research organizations, and state officials, who argue they could fundamentally reshape how federal research funding is awarded and managed. The comment period closed on July 13 for the proposed revisions and gathered more than 496,775 comments.

For organizations across the food, nutrition, and public health sectors, these developments underscore a rapidly evolving federal research environment. While nutrition remains one of HHS's stated priority areas, the recent grant cancellations suggest that future funding decisions may increasingly depend not only on scientific merit but also on alignment with evolving federal policy priorities with enhanced government oversight.

 

CDC

CDC Director Nominations

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee postponed its planned vote on Dr. Erica Schwartz's nomination to serve as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said the delay was due to a family emergency affecting Republican attendance, and the committee now expects to vote next week. The delay came despite Chairman Cassidy announcing his support for Schwartz after previously questioning whether she would maintain the CDC's scientific independence and stand up to political pressure from HHS Secretary Kennedy during her confirmation hearing. Cassidy said subsequent discussions and a review of her testimony gave him confidence in her leadership. If approved by the HELP Committee, Schwartz's nomination will advance to the full Senate for confirmation. CDC has experienced significant leadership turnover over the past year, making the confirmation of a permanent director a key priority as the agency continues to respond to major public health challenges.