- As of January 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule, addressing voluntary US-origin label claims for meat, poultry, and egg products, is now in effect.
- The March
USDA Publishes Interim Final Rule for Orange Juice Standards
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- On November 18, 2025, The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued an interim final rule (IFR) revising its grading standards for pasteurized orange juice to align with the Food and
Federal Hemp Definition Under Scrutiny by State Attorney Generals
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- A coalition of 39 state and territory attorneys general recently submitted a letter to congressional leaders requesting clarification of the federal definition of “hemp” under the Agricultural Improvement Act of
Ninth Circuit Reverses Bioengineered Food Labeling Exemption for Highly Refined Foods
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- The Ninth Circuit has reversed (Law360 subscription required) a district court ruling exempting highly refined foods from the definition of a “bioengineered food.” As we previously blogged, in 2022,
US States Sue USDA Over SNAP Suspension
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- This week, twenty-five US states and the District of Columbia (DC) filed suit in the US District Court of Massachusetts against the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and US Office
States Warn of SNAP Benefits Suspension in November
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- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, New York, and Texas have recently issued updates regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, warning that there may be suspension of food
Governor Newsom Signs California Bill Defining Ultraprocessed Food
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- On October 8, 2025, Governor Newsom signed the “Real Food, Healthy Kids Act,” making California the first state to define ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) and prohibit them in schools.
- California’s AB
The Impacts of the US Government Shutdown on HHS Activities
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- On October 1, 2025, the US federal government shut down after lawmakers failed to pass a new appropriations bill. Federal agencies and departments have certain operational procedures during shutdowns, and
Kessler Citizen Petition Addresses Refined Carbohydrates
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- On August 6, 2025, Former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), David Kessler, submitted a citizen petition calling on FDA to limit refined carbohydrates used in industrial
Leaked MAHA Report Proposes Overhaul of Children’s Health Policy
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- A leaked draft of the White House’s “Making Our Children Healthy Again Strategy,” issued by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission outlines a sweeping federal plan to combat childhood