The Center for Food Safety, fresh off reaching an agreement with FDA on a timeline for FSMA implementation, filed a lawsuit challenging the agency’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) rules. The center accuses FDA of failing to protect the public through its fast-track system for ingredients that manufacturers believe should be GRAS.

GRAS dates from 1958, when Congress added a Food Additives Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The amendment required manufacturers to demonstrate a proposed ingredient’s safety through scientific testing. Approval power rested with FDA, and a petition period allowed public comment.