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Keep Pace with Change: Latest News from FEMA’s 2025 Fall Symposium

by Holly Griffin | Nov 6, 2025

For professionals in flavor R&D, regulatory affairs, and quality, the 2025 FEMA Fall Symposium in Morristown, NJ, reinforced a key message. Success in the food and beverage industry depends on reliable information, strong networks, and clear processes. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) continues to guide members through scientific and regulatory complexity to ensure the safe and responsible use of flavoring substances. FEMA flavor substances, those evaluated and deemed “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS), remain central to FEMA’s mission.

Throughout the Symposium, industry experts shared updates on the evolving regulatory landscape, safety frameworks, and global supply dynamics. For our team, the event reinforced the importance of proactive compliance. Using credible resources from FEMA and staying connected with peers aligns our team with future regulations.

Attending events like the FEMA Fall Symposium reflects FlavorSum’s commitment to staying informed on the policies shaping our industry. These connections allow our regulatory experts to anticipate change and confidently guide customers through evolving regulatory requirements.

The following recap shares notable topics from the event that our regulatory team attendees found helpful for staying current on issues shaping product development, compliance, and long-term planning.

Building a Strong Foundation

The first day focused on tools, global connections, and the scientific frameworks that underpin the FEMA flavor industry. Presenters reminded attendees of the resources and structures companies can rely on every day.

ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR DAILY WORK

At FlavorSum, we use many tools available to FEMA members, integrating them directly into regulatory workflows and development processes. You can find helpful tools for free on the FEMA website, such as:

Articles about Flavors

Where flavors come from

History of flavors

Flavor Safety

Flavor Library: CAS, FEMA #, GRAS Reference, etc.

FEMA GRAS Publications

Takeaways: FEMA resources provide helpful built-in checkpoints that, when incorporated into stage-gate reviews, can ensure compliance throughout the development process.

CLARITY ON FEMA GRAS

Our team learned valuable insights from a deep dive into the history of the FEMA GRAS program. The program, which began in 1965, remains a cornerstone of flavor ingredient approval. The table below explains the approval process for FEMA flavors and other approval pathways:

FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Voluntary Notification

Self-GRAS

FEMA GRAS

Feature	FEMA GRAS (FEMA Flavor)	FDA Voluntary Notification	Self-GRAS (Independent GRAS)
Evaluator	Scientists and experts from various fields form the independent FEMA Expert Panel.	The FDA, which issues a “no objection” letter if it agrees with the determination.	An expert panel assembled by the manufacturer.
Transparency	The FEMA Expert Panel submits its scientific conclusions to the FDA and publishes its findings publicly in peer-reviewed journals, such as Food Technology.	Results are made public through the FDA’s inventory of GRAS notices.	The determination is kept internal and not submitted to the FDA for review, though the FDA can challenge it.
Scope	Exclusively evaluates flavoring substances added to human foods.	Covers a broad range of food ingredients, not just flavorings.	Covers any food ingredient, depending on the scope chosen by the manufacturer.
FDA Recognition	The FDA formally acknowledges FEMA’s scientific rigor and has historically included FEMA GRAS substances in its own review process.	The FDA’s issuance of a “no questions” letter signifies its formal review and lack of objections.	No notification goes to the FDA, and its recognition is not guaranteed.
Speed	Often a faster route for gaining safety recognition for flavor ingredients.	The FDA’s review process can be more time-consuming.	Generally the fastest process, but lacks external scientific validation or transparency.

Takeaway: FEMA GRAS evaluations represent a structured safety system, not just a list. Understanding the reasoning behind approvals strengthens compliance and credibility.

Regulatory Headwinds

The team valued highlights about regulatory pressure points. Attendees explored emerging risks and the ripple effects shaping market compliance.

ON THE HORIZON: UPF AND FRONT-OF-PACK LABELING

Two issues dominated the initial discussion:

Ultra-Processed Foods (UPF): Federal and state governments are exploring definitions

Front-of-Pack (FOP) labeling: Mandatory and voluntary schemes are growing. Colombia now requires FOP labels for natural sugars.

Practical step: Anticipate label impacts during early development to avoid unwelcome surprises.

STATE LEGISLATIVE UPDATES: THE PATCHWORK CHALLENGE

In the 2024 season, U.S. legislators introduced more than 132 state bills to regulate the food and beverage industry, with only two aligning closely, illustrating the widespread fragmentation. The growing number of inconsistent, state-level laws makes compliance difficult for the industry and points to a lack of comprehensive federal oversight.

Takeaway: Experts have long highlighted the need for a more comprehensive, centralized federal approach to food safety. A better-aligned system could provide consistency for both shoppers and companies, prevent conflicting requirements from hampering interstate commerce, and ensure a minimum national standard of food safety.

Until federal oversight improves consistency, food and beverage companies must adapt to an evolving and often disparate set of state regulations.

Safety, Alcohol, and Listening to Members

Discussions about regulatory delays caused by the U.S. government shutdown and about identifying industry priorities for FEMA’s future agenda filled the final day of the Symposium. Overall, attendees agreed that the Symposium provides industry members an opportunity to network, learn, and plan for the future.

TTB DELAYS

The TTB paused approvals due to the U.S. government shutdown. The pause affects manufacturers and raw material suppliers. Processing of submissions will not happen until governmental operations restart.

Recommendation: Use the downtime to prepare dossiers and finalize packaging claims. Teams can then move quickly once approvals restart.

Key Takeaways for FlavorSum Partners

Anticipate ripple effects, as regulations in one region often influence those in others. Plan for global compliance at the start of every project.

Use FEMA GRAS resources, embedding FEMA available tools into templates and gate reviews. Standardize them in development, regulatory, and quality processes.

Reach out to FlavorSum if volatile global ingredients pose a risk to your desired taste profile. Together, we can define sensory guardrails for reformulation options and find alternatives to meet your flavor needs.

Turn to the FlavorSum regulatory team for information about allergen developments. Our team monitors changes and anticipates how regulators may set thresholds.

Invest in collaboration. Our regulatory team highlighted networking and problem-solving as the Symposium’s most valuable aspects. Collaboration across companies is essential in turbulent regulatory times.

Staying Connected Can Drive Informed Decisions

The flavor industry faces turbulent supply chains, evolving definitions of processing, and fragmented legislation. FlavorSum’s partnership with FEMA helps the team make informed decisions that prioritize safety, compliance, and product quality while continuing to deliver great-tasting innovation.

If you have questions about how regulatory frameworks will affect your food or beverage development plan, please connect with us.

Author

Holly Griffin

Holly Griffin is the Senior Regulatory Specialist for FlavorSum. She shares more than 12 years of experience with regulatory compliance in the food and beverage industry with FlavorSum teams and customers. She earned her B.S. in food science from the University of Arkansas, and joined FlavorSum in 2021.