The FDA's 2026 Food Safety Overhaul: What's Actually Changing in Your Grocery Store

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to implement the most comprehensive food safety overhaul in decades, with sweeping changes coming to grocery stores nationwide in 2026. Under the new Human Foods Program (HFP), the agency will target petroleum-based food dyes, rigorously review potentially harmful additives, and introduce stricter oversight of chemicals in the food supply that affects 80% of what Americans eat.

What Food Additives Are Getting the Axe?

The FDA's post-market safety review process will prioritize chemicals that concern consumers most. The agency plans to conduct comprehensive safety assessments of several widely-used food additives, starting with those that have raised the most public concern.

• Phthalates: Chemical compounds used in food packaging that can migrate into food products
• Propylparaben: A preservative commonly found in processed foods and beverages
• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA): An antioxidant preservative used to prevent rancidity in fats and oils
• Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT): Another antioxidant preservative found in cereals, chewing gum, and other processed foods

The FDA will also publish its first-ever Systematic Post-Market Assessment process document, explaining how the agency evaluates substance safety and how the public can participate in these reviews.

How Will Natural Food Dyes Replace Petroleum-Based Colors?

One of the most visible changes coming to grocery shelves involves the phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes in favor of natural alternatives. The FDA is expediting reviews of natural color additives and will publish draft guidance in 2026 on when fruit and vegetable-derived juices qualify as color additives under federal regulations.

This shift represents a dramatic departure from current practices, where companies have relied heavily on synthetic dyes derived from petroleum products. The agency will complete reviews of additional natural colors and prioritize evaluation of any new natural color submissions to ensure a smooth transition for food manufacturers.

What About Heavy Metals and Microplastics in Food?

The FDA's "Closer to Zero" initiative will establish new action levels for cadmium and inorganic arsenic in baby and toddler foods, targeting contaminants that naturally occur in the environment but can accumulate in the food supply. The agency will also issue guidance on preventive controls to minimize chemical hazards across all food categories.

Addressing growing scientific concern about microplastics, the FDA will conduct research in 2026 to develop methods that accurately detect, quantify, and characterize microplastics in human food. This research will enable the agency to identify when these contaminants are present and take regulatory action to address potential health risks.

The agency will also continue studying consumer exposure to heavy metals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants through its ongoing Food Safety and Nutrition Survey, which helps inform future policy decisions.

Perhaps the most significant regulatory change involves reforming the Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) system. Currently, companies can introduce food substances they claim are safe without FDA notice or review under the voluntary GRAS notification program. In 2026, the FDA will publish a proposed regulation requiring submission of GRAS notices for all new substances claimed to be safe, representing the biggest update to food-additive oversight in years.