FDA’s Human Foods Program (HFP) released its priority deliverables for 2026. As part of HFP’s comprehensive plan, these targeted deliverables represent more than incremental progress; they signal a transformation in how HFP fulfills its mission to protect and enhance public health.
According to a press release, in 2026, HFP will build on accomplishments in 2025, guided by the three risk pillars, to strengthen and shape the next phase of FDA’s efforts. Throughout this year, FDA intends to provide periodic updates on their progress.
The planned activities include:
- Food Chemical Safety: Improving the safety of food ingredients by systematically reviewing and, where appropriate, banning additives from the food supply.
- Nutrition: Helping to reduce the prevalence of diet-related chronic disease by increasing transparency and empowering consumers to make informed choices through enhanced food labeling, such as front-of-package nutrition labeling; and expanding options for safe, reliable, and nutritious infant formula for American families through Operation Stork Speed initiatives.
- Microbiological Food Safety: Enhancing food safety by advancing strategies and best practices for preventing contamination in human foods, strengthening protection by leveraging state oversight to complement FDA’s resources, and improving transparency of FDA’s regulatory and enforcement decisions.
In line with these 2026 priorities, HFP is also publishing its proposed 2026 guidance agenda to increase transparency of their work and processes, enhance food safety, and empower consumer nutrition choices, including the following impactful public health actions:
- Establishing action levels for cadmium and inorganic arsenic in infant and young children’s foods, plus issuing guidance on preventive controls for chemical hazards.
- Issuing guidance to assist industry in implementing effective sanitation controls consistent with the Preventive Controls for Human Food rule.
- Issuing guidance to assist with food labeling for online grocery store platforms to give consumers access to nutrition information wherever they shop.
FDA states its goals for 2026 are ambitious, but claims HFP has the dedication, knowledge, and experience to tackle them.
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