WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration proposed a major change Monday that would require food manufacturers to notify the agency when they determine that an ingredient is “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS.
Under the current framework, companies can reach their own GRAS conclusions and introduce some substances into the food supply without submitting those findings to the FDA. The agency says mandatory notification would give regulators and the public greater visibility into chemicals and other ingredients being added to processed foods.
The proposal would require companies to provide the basis for their safety determinations, but it would not create full premarket FDA approval for every GRAS ingredient. According to The Associated Press and Reuters, broader mandatory review would require action by Congress. The FDA plans to accept public comments on the proposed rule for 120 days.
The change could eventually make it easier for consumers to learn which ingredients enter the food supply and what evidence companies use to support their safety. The FDA explains the existing GRAS system and its current notice inventory on its official website.
