Major Food Standards Rescinded: A New Chapter in Food Regulation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday a sweeping regulatory overhaul that will eliminate 52 outdated food standards of identity, marking the most significant modernization of food regulations in decades. The unprecedented move affects products ranging from canned fruits and dairy to bakery goods, potentially reshaping how millions of food items are labeled and manufactured across America. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary declared the standards “obsolete and unnecessary,” emphasizing that “antiquated food standards are no longer serving to protect consumers”. The initiative, announced July 16, 2025, represents the first concrete results from the agency’s comprehensive review of its portfolio of over 250 food standards of