CHICAGO — Food manufacturers are facing an uncertain regulatory future as Food & Drug Administration (FDA) rulings on ultra-processed foods (UPF), artificial colors and more loom large.

At Pack Expo 2026, held Oct. 18-21 in Chicago, McCormick & Co.’s Marsha Forman, senior regulatory affairs manager, shared how the Hunt Valley, Md.-based CPG giant and ingredient supplier is navigating this uncertainty and how other manufacturers can position themselves for these regulations.

Asked which potential changes concern her the most, Forman cited two: the upcoming FDA definition on UPFs , and the agency’s proposed rule change to its general recognized as safe (GRAS) process. 

Describing the UPF definition as potentially “transformational,” Forman said McCormick & Co. is playing close attention to California, which has already passed its own definition. She likened California’s lead on UPFs to its pioneering of an “organic” definition decades ago.

“Organic started in California, and then it became a national thing,” she said. “So could California’s [UPF definition] evolve into being a national UPF definition as well?”

Regarding GRAS, the FDA has proposed a rule that would transition the process from voluntary with a self-affirmed option to mandatory. Forman noted that the rule would apply not just to a food’s ingredient but to its packaging as well. 

“[You have to] make sure that the additives have had a proper review, that the packaging has had a proper review,” she said. “Neither of these things are really a mandatory process right now.”

While federal pressure to phase out artificial colors is strong, Forman noted that only one — Red No. 3 — has been officially banned. Still, with the FDA’s goal to remove all FD&C colors by the end of 2027, McCormick & Co. has joined a slew of other food manufacturers in voluntarily removing them — both in their CPG products and ingredients. 

“We've been at the forefront of finding natural solutions for some of our customers,” Forman said. “The FDA has said they're going to expedite looking at natural color solutions — we’re monitoring those petitions so we have those ready to bring to our customers.”

Regarding the FDA’s proposed front of pack labeling rule — which would require most packaged foods to display a “Nutrition info box” highlighting saturated fat, sodium and added sugar — Forman noted the timeline remains up in the air with the ruling potentially being delayed considerably. 

“But at the same time, we have looked at the proposed rules and our portfolio to understand the impact,” she said. “We have been supporting our customers who might be wanting to lean in on sodium or sugar reduction, so that when that rule, if it is finalized, comes, they’ll be ready.”

As food companies brace for these regulations, Forman emphasized departments must work together to clearly define the ingredients they plan to use and label claims they wish to achieve. 

“Any time you're working on label, you want to have a lot of people in the room,” she said. “You want to have regulatory. You want to have graphics, project managers, marketing, packaging engineers and people approving things like certifications. There are a lot of players, and it's really important that everyone has clear responsibilities and ownership for what's being approved, so that nothing gets missed.”