Strategizing Amidst Pending Regulations Facing “Big Food”   | The Garage Group

Strategizing Amidst Pending Regulations Facing “Big Food”  

At TGG, our curiosity drives us to keep a pulse on what’s going on in the world around us and, currently, there’s a lot of buzz in the U.S. around the food and beverage industry. Consumers are expressing growing concern of side-effects from ingredients, processing, packaging, and lack of transparency which is leading to the introduction of new regulations at both state and federal levels. 

California is leading the way 

California is a state that has led the charge on introducing new guidelines. It has put mandates in place to investigate the health impacts of ultra-processed foods and raised the nutritional standards in the school meal program. While these mandates did not initially impact big players in the industry, recent bans (starting as soon as January 2027) will require a response. These bans include:  

While only one state, California is the world’s 5th largest economy, with $4.08 trillion GSP (Gross State Product) and is home to ~12% of U.S. consumers. To ensure the right to play in this market long-term, large-scale production changes will need to be made. 

What will happen next? 

Access to California consumers is not the only market at stake. There is also the very real possibility that some of these regulations may establish a precedent that other states or Federal U.S. agencies may follow. For example, on January 15th, the FDA also issued a ban on Red Dye No. 3. This happened less than 2 years after California, with the same deadline of January 2027. 

While companies react to new regulations as they are released, there is an opportunity for both new and established brands to proactively strategize in anticipation of what consumers – and regulators – may be looking for next.  

Circumstances are ripe for new innovations that can lead to long-term consumer trust and brand loyalty. As a battle-tested innovation and strategy partner to several big industry players, TGG welcomes the challenge to help make what could be a difficult transition into an exciting, new opportunity for disruptive innovation.  

Given the significance of these changes, you can expect to hear updates on this topic from TGG as we navigate the uncertainty alongside you. 

For more information on how The Garage Group partners with F1000 brands, visit thegaragegroup.com or click HERE for a direct line to our team.  

Explore More