Ep. 199. George Misko: The Future of Food Regulation Under MAHA

George G. Misko, Esq. is a Partner at Keller and Heckman LLP in Washington D.C. He counsels domestic and foreign clients on food and drug matters and advises clients on regulatory requirements relating to chemical substances specific to food contact, plastics, and food products in the U.S. and other jurisdictions, including Canada, the EU, Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region. George also has experience in counseling on environmental concerns, including pesticide regulation, right-to-know laws, and toxic substance control regulations. He represents trade associations and is legal counsel to the Global Silicones Council.

Prior to joining Keller and Heckman, George was Senior Regulatory Counsel for the Chemical Specialty Manufacturers Association (now known as the Household and Commercial Products Association), where he counseled on a broad range of environmental and health and safety issues. George is a frequent contributor to trade publications, including Food Safety Magazine, and he is frequently invited to speak at conferences on food contact and chemical control laws.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with George [41:42] about:

• The potential regulatory implications for the food industry of the Trump Administration's focus on food packaging chemicals and food contact materials, as outlined in the May 2025 "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) Report
• How new policies or laws on food packaging and food contact materials could impact food safety assurance and packaging innovation
• The existence and quality of evidence supporting the MAHA Report's claims about the negative health effects of certain food additives and preservatives
• How food companies can address the Trump Administration's concerns about preservatives, sweeteners, and other additives without compromising food safety and quality
• The MAHA Report's call for federal reform of the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) provision and what it means for food chemicals and ingredients regulation
• Ways in which GRAS reform could be implemented and how it would affect food companies
• Cases where GRAS could still be a useful tool for food companies and regulators.

News and Resources

News

Reagan-Udall Foundation's 'Roadmap to Produce Safety' Encourages Private Sector-Led Collaboration [10:21]

Survey: Confidence in U.S. Food Safety Hits Record Low, Foodborne Pathogens Are Top Concern [17:12]

Half of Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreaks Caused by Overhead Irrigation Water, Study Finds [29:51]

Senate Confirms Dr. Susan Monarez as CDC Director [37:46]

USDA-FSIS Names Trey Forsyth as Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety [38:22]

FDA, USDA Issue Joint RFI to Address the Risks of Ultra-Processed Foods [38:54]

Resources

Food Safety Leadership in the Business of Food Safety, Second Edition in Paperback

"The Views of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Food and Food Packaging Safety" by George G. Misko, Esq. for Food Safety Magazine August/September 2025

"Diamantas and Choiniere: FDA Focuses on Produce Safety, MAHA, Culture, and More," Food Safety Matters Podcast

MAHA Report Sets Stage for Overhaul of Food Chemicals, Environmental Contaminants, and Childhood Nutrition

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