How will the incoming Trump Administration impact the food industry in 2025? In a word, I would say to expect change.
With Robert F. Kennedy Jr having been selected to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, I expect to see some significant changes to the FDA and its policies. Add to that, the fact that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been tapped to lead an advisory group focused on cuts to both federal spending and administrative size, I have no doubt that the food industry will be facing some significant changes, and in likelihood, challenges in 2025.
So, what are the top areas of change I see as most significant and most likely to incur focus in 2025:
- The Food Agencies. With the recent regulatory challenges shown by both USDA and FDA which resulted in significant outbreaks, I would expect there to be a considerable focus on the restructuring of the agencies, with the potential for renewed discussion for a single agency. This is particularly expected when considering the rhetoric of both Kennedy (stating that he sees entire departments, like FDA’s nutrition department that are not doing their job) and Trump who has said he would allow Kennedy to “go wild” on health, food, and medicines. Although I don’t see new regulations in the short term, the leaders of the food programs at FDA may change depending on who is the new Commissioner and the Undersecretary for Food Safety at USDA will certainly change, so that could turn things upside down in the medium term. If the position of Deputy Commissioner for Foods stays intact, it will be a key role, with food gaining a larger piece of the FDA pie than it has in the past. For USDA, I don’t see anything in particular occurring, but I could see the focus on Salmonella strategies decreasing or staying status quo as industry pushes back and the new administration lets it ride.
- Chemicals, Additives, Food Colors. While the expected focus in this area is a shift from the previous Trump presidency stance of reversing chemical bans and blocking reforms, Kennedy’s influence is being heavily seen this time around, with his drive to make food healthier and reduce chemicals in agriculture and foods. Thus, I would expect there to be a heavy focus on chemicals in foods, with a major review of all approved food additives, food colors, chemicals, etc. taking place. However, the emphasis, which looks as though it may shift from risk assessments to precautionary principles as are often more prominent in other countries, could create significant challenges and costs for food manufacturers, as they attempt to reformulate products for compliance. While I don’t see the emphasis on heavy metals changing, other than an increase in the speed of the Closer to Zero initiative, as FDA has this fairly well balanced at this time, I do see Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) as being incredibly vulnerable, due to its limited oversight and lack of transparency, which is becoming another buzzword of the new administration.
- Nutrition & Front of Package Labeling. With Kennedy’s stance on making America healthy, there’s no question that nutrition will be a driving factor for the food agencies and industry as a whole. It is an interesting counter to his stance on wanting to eliminate the entire nutrition department of FDA, as he has not defined quite how he would focus on nutrition without such a department. I have to say that I do agree that there should be more emphasis on nutrition by the agency that is responsible for it (FDA), as they have done little in this area relative to the impact of nutrition on the health and wellbeing of Americans. One area the agency has been pushing is the Front of Package Labeling, and I would expect that to continue. Of greater challenge will be the new administration’s condemnation of ultra-processed foods. At issue there is not only how to define ultra-processed, but also how to maintain costs, shelf-life, etc., without some of the “ultra-processing,” for which the judgment is more about perception than about any actual negative health impacts.
However, with all the focus on making America healthy, a matter on which I’ve heard very little rhetoric, is that of routine food safety. With the recent outbreaks, I don’t expect there to be much let up on Listeria and E coli, and there may even be more focus on areas such as mandatory environmental control programs. But I haven’t seen anything from the incoming administration on this.
So, lots of change, and lots of wait-and-see. Just know that we, at TAG, are staying on top of it all to keep you informed, and to assist you as we all work to adapt to changes to come.
All written content in TAG articles, newsletters, and webpages is developed and written by TAG experts, not AI. We focus on the realities and the science to bring you the most current, exacting information possible.
