A decades-old U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule allows food companies to determine the safety of new additives, often without the agency’s oversight or public transparency.
Karen Kaplan reports for the Los Angeles Times.
In short:
- The FDA’s “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) rule lets companies self-certify novel additives without sharing data with the agency.
- Critics argue the system allows potentially harmful substances into food, as the FDA can't track or evaluate all new ingredients.
- Legislation has been proposed to require public disclosure and agency review, but progress has stalled in Congress.
Key quote:
“FDA cannot ensure the safety of our food supply if it does not know what is in our food.”
— Thomas Galligan, principal scientist for food additives and supplements at the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Why this matters:
Without FDA oversight, harmful chemicals may be added to everyday foods, risking public health. Transparent regulation is needed to ensure the safety of additives, especially for vulnerable groups like children and pregnant women.
Learn more: Risks associated with ultraprocessed foods explored
