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S2341119th CongressWALLET

Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

Introduced

Summary

Tightening and formalizing the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) safety process for food substances. The bill would create a new statutory GRAS pathway, require public posting and comment on many GRAS findings, and build a recurring reassessment program for food chemicals and classes of substances.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Regular FDA reassessments of chemicals

If enacted, the bill would create a Food Chemical Reassessment program. The FDA would reassess not fewer than 10 substances or classes within 3 years of enactment and at least every 3 years after that. The FDA could require manufacturers to provide data or do evaluations and could prioritize substances tied to petitions. The FDA would also be able to reassess and withdraw prior non-objection GRAS statements for substances that previously received that specific non-objection. Some reassessment authorities would start within three years and other withdrawal authority would take effect two years after enactment.

Tighter safety rules for food chemicals

If enacted, the bill would create a new statutory GRAS pathway and treat many substances as unsafe for food unless one of three paths applies. The three paths are (1) approved food additive status, (2) certain pre-enactment GRAS notices the FDA did not question, or (3) limited post-enactment GRAS notices the FDA did not object. The bill would define key safety terms and exclude known carcinogens and substances with reproductive or developmental toxicity from being GRAS. These rules would take effect two years after enactment. The bill would also authorize "such sums as are necessary" for FDA to carry out this new framework.

Public posting and stricter GRAS panels

If enacted, the FDA would post many GRAS notices on its website and open at least a 60-day public comment period for certain notices. The FDA must use written review criteria and issue either an objection or a non-objection, and those decisions would be final agency actions published with their bases. The FDA would have to review at least 50 such notices each year until they are all reviewed. The FDA would also issue strengthened GRAS panel guidance within 180 days after enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]

MA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 7/17/2025

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/2/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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