What’s Really in Your Food? New Coalition Pushes for National Ingredient Transparency
Farm, food, and beverage groups join in call for GRAS, labeling, and QR code reforms
A new coalition of farm and consumer organizations is calling for a single national standard to replace what it describes as a “confusing patchwork” of state ingredient rules. The effort — led by Americans for Ingredient Transparency, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit — officially launched Tuesday and aims to work with Congress and the Trump administration on reforms to ingredient safety and labeling laws.
“Americans want to know that the ingredients in the products they’re buying for their families are safe,” said Andy Koenig, senior advisor to the group. “Our goal is to cut through confusion and ensure everyone has access to clear information.”
Coalition and Support from Farm Groups
Backing the campaign are some of the nation’s most influential farm and food trade associations, reflecting broad rural and agricultural support. In addition to major consumer and food industry players like the Consumer Brands Association, American Beverage Association, Corn Refiners Association, and FMI – The Food Industry Association, the coalition also includes:
- National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
- American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
- National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF)
- American Soybean Association (ASA)
- National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG)
- U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA)
These groups, representing farmers and ranchers nationwide, say a unified national approach to ingredient standards will prevent the “regulatory patchwork” that has made compliance difficult for agricultural producers selling across state lines. “Our members grow the ingredients that feed America — we need one clear, science-based standard, not fifty different state rules,” said a spokesperson for the National Corn Growers Association.
Key Policy Goals
Americans for Ingredient Transparency is pushing for three main federal reforms:
- GRAS reform – to create a uniform national process for designating ingredients as “Generally Recognized as Safe.”
- Front-of-package labeling reform – to help guide consumers toward informed, healthier choices.
- QR code reform – requiring scannable codes that give consumers instant access to ingredient and safety information.
“Families deserve commonsense and science-backed transparency they can rely on,” said Julie Gunlock, the group’s co-leader. “Protecting our families starts with the truth.”
Alignment with MAHA and HHS
The campaign coincides with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s broader Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative, which includes calls for overhauling the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rule. Kennedy in March urged the FDA to “eliminate the self-affirmed GRAS pathway,” saying manufacturers had “exploited a loophole” allowing new ingredients into the food supply without sufficient review.
The new transparency coalition is positioning itself as a policy partner in that effort, advocating for a national, science-based system that benefits both consumers and producers.
“Every American deserves to know what’s in their food, beverages, and personal care items — and that they’re safe no matter where they live,” the coalition’s launch ad declares. “It’s time to fix the patchwork.”
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