At the 2026 Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Symposium, Elevating Spices in Today’s Health-Focused Food Regulatory Landscape explored how spices can play a pivotal role in the evolution of U.S. food policy, including in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) priorities. From health policy to regulatory trends, consumer research, and practical applications of using spices for color and as alternatives to salt and sugar, attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of how the spice sector can naturally add flavor and color to whole, healthy foods.

This presentation: State of the Science: The Role of Spices & Herbs on Improving Metabolic Health, Dr. David Heber, Founding Director of the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, synthesized current research on the physiological benefits of spices, including effects on inflammation, cardiometabolic health, and digestion. The presentation highlighted key human clinical trials that have established a strong scientific basis for the health benefits of spices, and how these findings align with growing consumer and regulatory interest in food as medicine.