WASHINGTON, DC — In the face of shifting regulations at the state and national levels impacting food and beverage manufacturers across the US, a new coalition has emerged to advocate for a national standard on ingredient transparency.
Americans for Ingredient Transparency (AFIT) is led by Julie Gunlock, a conservative policy advocate, and Andy Koenig, a former policy special assistant to President Donald Trump.
“It is a simple concept to understand — Americans want to know that the ingredients in the products they’re buying for their families are safe,” Koenig said. “This should not be a difficult standard to meet. Unfortunately, states are now implementing their own patchwork of contradictory ingredient rules that have caused widespread confusion among consumers. President Trump and his administration are well suited to make these determinations. Our goal is to cut through confusion and ensure everyone has access to clear information. Consumers want to know exactly what they are putting in and on their bodies. That is what we are working to achieve.”
As outlined on the lobbying group’s website, AFIT’s policy priorities are two-pronged. One is focused on amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to establish the FDA as the only governing body setting regulations for the marketing and sale of foods, beverages and over-the-counter products. The other focuses on ensuring regulations follow a risk-based evaluation process guided by peer- or expert-reviewed research, align with scientific principles, meet regulatory scientific standards, and are relevant to human health and safety.
AFIT also has three additional reform initiatives: urging federal legislation to provide a uniform approach for new food and beverage ingredients related to the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe designation, revamping front-of-package nutrition labeling nationwide and requiring QR codes on packaging to offer consumers access to product information.
The members of this coalition range from major CPG companies such as Conagra Brands, General Mills, Nestle and PepsiCo, to food and beverage associations, including SNAC International, Consumer Brands Association and the American Bakers Association (ABA).
“Joining the AFIT coalition reflects ABA’s commitment to science-based policies that strengthen both consumer confidence and the commercial baking industry,” said Rasma Zvaners, VP of government relations for ABA. “We look forward to working with our partners to establish a clear, consistent national standard for ingredient transparency.”
