FDA Revamps Rules for Food Ingredients Recognized as Safe

The Food and Drug Administration issued final rules today updating how the agency determines a substance used in food to be “generally recognized as safe,” known by the shorthand GRAS. Unlike food additives, substances determined to be GRAS are not subject to pre-market approval by regulators, thought they must meet the same safety standards as additives. Some pesticides, dietary supplement ingredients and color additives are classified as GRAS.  The final rules clarify that:  A substance cannot be classified as GRAS if available data doesn't satisfy the safety standard for a food additive under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.  GRAS classification requires “common knowledge” throughout the scientific community that the substance is not harmful.  Scientific recognition that a substance is safe must be concluded using generally accepted scientific data, information and methods.