Presented at the 2025 Annual Meeting in Savannah, GA, ASTA’s Laura Shumow and Shannen Kelly joined ASTA General Counsel Maile Gradison of Hogan Lovells for a rapid-fire overview of the latest regulatory and policy developments impacting the U.S. spice trade including ethylene oxide, heavy metals, pesticides, allergens, opiate alkaloids in poppy seeds, FDA guidance, inspections, and more. The session summarized ASTA’s response to the rapidly changing trade and tariff policy environment, including the association’s request for exemptions for spices. Speakers also delved into RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” food policy agenda, including initiatives to ban chemicals in foods – such as colors, pesticides, and heavy metals