The FDA says converting GRAS notification from voluntary to mandatory would ‘lead to increased transparency about substances that are added to food.
The FDA proposes making the GRAS notification program mandatory, requiring food substances to demonstrate safety for their intended use, aiming to enhance transparency and regulation. The process would apply to both existing and new substances, with some exceptions, and initial evaluations would take 45 days.
Current supply chain woes have made nearly every aspect of processing an ongoing guessing game, from forecasting ingredient availability to ensuring finished foods arrive at their destinations on time. One way to help make sense of the situation is to invest in track-and-trace technology that can monitor every step of a product’s journey.
To help meet consumer demand, U.S. food manufacturers and retailers look outside of the country. As of 2019, the U.S. imported about 15% of its overall food supply. Importing human food ingredients might sound like a no-brainer: that’s what the FDA is for, after all. Yet in reality, it is not that simple.