Regulatory

Trio of baking associations establish strategic partnership

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:41:00 -0400

The American Bakers Association, Retail Bakers of America, and Baking Association of Canada have announced an agreement to work together.

RFK Jr. says ultra-processed foods definition is coming

hendersonb@bnpmedia.com (Bailee Henderson) — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:07:00 -0400

In his remarks on a recent Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode, Secretary Kennedy also suggested FDA is considering a new approach to front-of-pack nutrition labeling.

ABA 2026 Convention to feature advocacy in action

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:46:00 -0400

Scheduled April 19-23 in Colorado Springs, the group’s yearly event comes at an especially challenging time for bakery professionals.

PTNPA announces West Coast Food Safety Symposium

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 13:23:00 -0500

Positioned in the heart of the world’s most productive tree nut growing region, the Symposium aims to serve as a practical opportunity to navigate both federal and California regulatory dynamics.

Non-UPF Verified program aims at ultraprocessed foods

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:03:00 -0500

The program's intention is to provide consumers with more useful information about the ingredients and processing of baked goods, snacks, and other foods.

HHS releases new U.S. dietary guidelines

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 14:21:00 -0500

The new U.S. dietary guidelines, updated by federal health agencies every five years, recommend consumers avoid ultra-processed foods and beverages.

ABA companies aim to cut some synthetic colors

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500

More than 90% of ABA member companies have committed to eliminating certified FD&C colors by December 31, 2028.

ABA hosts Bakers Fly-In and Policy Summit

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 11:40:00 -0500

The conference brought bakery owners from across the country together to connect, learn, and advocate for the continued success of small businesses.

Applications open for ABA Champions Awards

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The Champions for a Better Tomorrow Awards recognize ABA member companies making a positive impact in their communities, workplaces, and the environment.

IBIE 2025 featured largest-ever show floor

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 16:49:16 -0400

The American Bakers Association (ABA), co-owner of the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), shares highlights from IBIE 2025, which took place September 13–17 in Las Vegas, NV.

ABA unveils pledge to remove artificial dyes from schools

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:12:41 -0400

Nearly all ABA member companies serving schools are on track to meet the pledge.

ABA Fly-In to feature Bakers Dozen Congressional Reception

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 11:12:00 -0400

The fly-in will connect baking industry leaders with elected officials in the nation’s capitol.

Pandemic bakery perspectives

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 10:33:00 -0500

In the ongoing grip of the COVID-19 pandemic as we enter a new year, and a new administration in Washington, we reached out for an update from Robb MacKie, President and CEO, American Bakers Association (ABA), Washington, D.C.

Industry engagement crucial in post-election landscape

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 09:00:00 -0500

The 2020 election is over, but efforts to understand the impacts are just beginning.

Americans deserve an additional serving of whole grains in their diet

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Since grains are the cornerstone of a healthful, plant-based diet, and the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are the bedrock for nutrition policy in the U.S., the baking industry is well-positioned to make powerful, positive changes for the health of America's families.

Federal updates from ABA: Nutritional labeling and labor policy issues

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 12:27:00 -0500

All federal food policy is based on the recommendations stemming from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The American Bakers Association (ABA) leads the Grain Chain, an organization of 10 groups from grain growers and millers, as well as bakers and others who have an interest in growing grain consumption.

Top regulatory issues facing the bakery industry

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 08:00:00 -0400

As of the last regulatory update from the American Bakers Association (ABA), we were coming out of a governmental shutdown. Now, the clock is ticking as we stare down the August recess in Congress and feel continued residual delays from that shutdown.

The American Bakers Association highlights its 2019 regulatory priorities

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:14:00 -0400

Even though the year started in a partial government shutdown, the government relations team from the American Bakers Association (ABA) continued to push forward on several key regulatory initiatives.

Time to double down on regulatory modernization

Wed, 12 Dec 2018 15:25:00 -0500

I recently met with one of the most actively engaged and supportive members of the American Bakers Association (ABA) and their senior management team. They asked me to provide a market and Washington update.

FDA provides guidance on dietary fibers

Wed, 08 Aug 2018 14:30:00 -0400

At long last, FDA has provided guidance on many dietary fibers. To be clear, the FDA announcement covers about 70–75 percent of common dietary fibers in use today, so more work needs to be done.

The regulatory reform environment of the Trump Administration

Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:00:00 -0400

During the tumultuous first year of the Trump Administration, the untold story has been the significant efforts to mitigate the numerous regulatory overreaches by the Obama Administration.

The importance of the Kansas State University Bakery Science program to the industry

Thu, 14 Dec 2017 00:00:00 -0500

This past year on the Stronger Together tour, after the merger of the American Bakers Association (ABA) and the Biscuit & Cracker Manufacturers’ Association, we stopped at Kansas State University (KSU) to meet with the Bakery Science & Management students and participate in the Grain Science and Industry Advisory Council meeting.

Lessons from the 2017 ABA convention

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 00:00:00 -0400

The 2017 American Bakers Association (ABA) Convention featured our most thought-provoking and provocative program yet, centered around the enormous disruptions impacting the baking industry.

Making sense of Trump’s regulatory relief agenda

Wed, 15 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -0400

With great trepidation that this column will become immediately obsolete or at least very dated in the short time from submitting it to publication, I want to address the whirlwind of regulatory relief announcements from the new Trump Administration.

What does the Trump presidency mean to the baking industry?

Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 -0500

With the election of Donald Trump, and a slightly narrower Republican majority in Congress, Washington and the national punditocracy is both stunned and clamoring to find meaning in the election results.

Takeaways from the GMO labeling fight

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 00:00:00 -0400

One of the strangest, most-convoluted policy fights in the history of modern food just cleared a major hurdle in July with President Obama’s expected signature of the GMO Labeling agreement between Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

Investing in the future of the bakery industry

Wed, 11 May 2016 00:00:00 -0400

Multiple prevailing trends at the consumer and regulatory levels will factor into the business concerns of the bakery industry over the coming year. These include product-development dynamics like non-GMO, nutritional labeling, transparency and food safety—all of which have the potential to positively influence overall shopper perceptions related to bread and the other baked goods that play a part of dietary patterns.

ABA recaps its 2015 achievements, while preparing for 2016

Fri, 12 Feb 2016 00:00:00 -0500

When 2015 began, most Washington, D.C. observers predicted more gridlock in Washington.

ABA prepares for upcoming regulatory issues, Fall Policy Conference

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 00:00:00 -0400

Many of us are asking ourselves where the summer went, and it is difficult to find a good answer. I hope you had some deserved downtime with family at some point.

The role of science in policy debates

Thu, 07 May 2015 00:00:00 -0400

A growing and consistent theme in the policy debates in which the American Bakers Association (ABA) is engaged is the importance of science to fortify our position.