Advocacy
August 14, 2025
Former FDA Commissioner David Kessler has petitioned to revoke GRAS status for a broad category of refined carbohydrates — a step that if adopted, could restrict/eliminate the use of many ultra-processed food ingredients. via @MarionNestle’s Food Politics:
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The petition names hfcs, corn syrup, maltodextrin, and extracted flours & starches from wheat, corn, potato - especially when combined with emulsifiers, dough conditioners, stabilizers, and modified starches. These are core to sodas, cereals, breads, snacks, and instant meals.
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If the FDA agreed as written, these ingredients would lose “safe” status under federal law and be subject to reformulation. In practice, the agency could phase changes in or narrow scope — but the petition’s breadth would still force significant product changes.
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March 31, 2025
RFK Jr. is now leading HHS. This opens a window to rethink how the U.S. addresses metabolic health, chronic disease, and longevity from the ground up. I map out what the new health policy landscape could look like: - Regulating hyperpalatable foods - Redirecting subsidies toward nutrient-dense crops - Supporting biotech innovation in aging and chronic disease - Leveraging DeSci to remove bias from nutrition research Thanks to @marionnestle for her insight on structural incentives in the food system, and @biogerontology for sharing how Insilico is using generative AI to design dual-purpose longevity therapeutics. #nutritionpolicy #longevity #rfkjr #publichealth #desci #ai #biotech
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Dec 16, 2024
Longevity science is on the brink of transforming public health and the global economy. My article examines how implementing targeted policy changes—such as increasing NIA funding, introducing tax incentives, and establishing an FDA Longevity Pathway—can position the U.S. as a global leader in longevity, reduce healthcare costs, and drive economic growth.