The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a plan to revoke 52 outdated standards of identity (SOIs) for various food categories, including dairy, canned fruits and vegetables, seafood, and baked goods. These regulations, originally designed to ensure consistency and consumer confidence, are now seen as obsolete and restrictive, potentially hindering innovation in food production.
The FDA’s proposal, issued on 16 July, seeks to eliminate SOIs for products such as canned fruits, certain dairy items, macaroni, and flavourings, many of which are no longer widely available in grocery stores. Affected categories include fruit artificially sweetened with saccharin, certain cheeses, and frozen desserts.
This move is part of an ongoing review of over 250 SOIs established since 1939. The agency aims to eliminate bureaucratic barriers and make food production more flexible, enabling the development of healthier and more innovative options. By revoking obsolete regulations, the FDA intends to create space for new production methods and technologies while still maintaining core food characteristics and consumer protection standards.
The update aligns with a broader federal push to eliminate outdated regulations, as part of efforts to foster transparency and innovation within the food industry.