OFW’s Food & Agriculture team regularly monitors announcements and policy issuances from FDA, USDA, and other agencies to keep our clients apprised of regulatory developments that may impact their business. Here are a few of the significant developments from January. If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- On January 21, 2026, FDA issued a Request for Information (RFI) regarding labeling and preventing cross-contact of gluten in packaged food to try and improve transparency in disclosures of ingredients.
- On January 23, 2026, FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP) released its Priority Deliverables for 2026. The Deliverables outline Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s 2026 goals that HFP will prioritize as part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative. In addition to releasing the Deliverables, HFP also published the 2026 Guidance Agenda, which outlines guidances the Agency intends to publish as drafts or final versions by the end of 2026.
- On January 27, 2026, FDA announced the release of the Total Diet Study Interface (TDSI), a new interactive web-based tool that provides access to findings from FDA’s Total Diet Study. With this launch, FDA also released the most recent cycle of TDSI data, including results from fiscal years 2021 and 2022.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Effective January 1, 2026, FSIS’s “Product of USA” label may only appear on products from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within the United States. Updated guidance supports industry compliance, particularly for small establishments. Webinar materials and transcripts are available on the FSIS website.
- On January 14, 2026, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS” or the “agency”) hosted a public meeting on “Exploring Practical Strategies to Reduce Salmonella in Poultry Products” (both remote and in-person) (“Public Meeting”). The Public Meeting initiated a new discussion around practical strategies to reduce Salmonella illnesses linked to poultry products, including the use of performance standards, data transparency, alternative parameters, and policy options.
Other
- On January 7, 2026, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), 2025-2030 were released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA. The DGA is intended to provide advice to Americans on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and help prevent chronic disease. More practically, the DGA will also influence current and forthcoming HHS and USDA food and nutrition policy. The DGA itself comprises 10 pages of recommendations, but is accompanied by a separate 508-page supporting report, “The Scientific Foundation for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” and its Appendix.
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Please contact Kyla Kaplan ([email protected]) if you have any questions or are interested in additional assistance.
