New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- US health officials have proposed a major change to the way new ingredients and additives are introduced into processed and packaged foods, seeking to close regulatory loophole.

Under the proposal announced on Monday (August 10), food manufacturers would have to notify the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before introducing new ingredients through the "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) pathway. Companies would also have to provide documentation explaining why they believe the ingredient is safe.

The proposal is part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s broader push to increase scrutiny of food additives, artificial colours and highly processed foods.

But the proposed changes do not mean that the FDA wo...