US health regulators will stop defining what 'French dressing' is

The US Food and Drug Administration wants to remove 23 old rules that define specific food products. This means food makers will have more freedom to change recipes and ingredients for products like French dressing or frozen cherry pie.

For decades, the US government told food companies exactly what ingredients could go into certain products. These rules, called 'standards of identity,' were meant to protect consumers from fraud. But they also locked in old recipes and made it hard for companies to innovate or use new ingredients. Removing these rules means companies can now make changes without asking for special permission, which could lead to new versions of classic foods or cheaper alternatives.