In a study released earlier this year by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), concerns were raised about a loophole in the Food Additives Amendment of 1958 for substances designated by food manufacturers as generally recognized as safe. The report, Generally Recognized as Secret: Chemicals Added to Food in the US, identified 56 companies that appeared to market 275 chemicals for use in food, based on an undisclosed GRAS safety determination. NRDC did not find evidence FDA had cleared any of the chemicals identified in this study for use in food.
Now, both FDA and at least one industry group are set to make some changes designed to take the “secret” out of GRAS. FDA has completed a review of how the agency evaluates the harmful effects of chemicals in foods, cosmetics, dietary supplements, animal food/feed and veterinary drugs. Based on the findings, FDA will take further steps to strengthen its internal processes.