Key Update

The analysis of  Environmental Working Group (EWG), a U.S.-based non-profit organisation, finds that hundreds of chemicals have entered U.S. foods without FDA review. Companies have used a loophole in the Generally Recognised As Safe (GRAS) system to self-certify ingredients—known as “secret GRAS” chemicals—without notifying regulators.

EWG identified 111 secret GRAS chemicals, 49 of which appear in thousands of products, including cereals, snack bars, drinks, and dietary supplements. Many ingredients, such as concentrated plant extracts, alternative proteins, and green coffee bean or mushroom extracts, lack publicly available safety data.

Known Risks and Past Incidents Highlight Dangers

Some substances previously banned in other applications, like aloe vera, remain in foods under secret GRAS status despite health concerns, including kidney damage and cancer. In 2022, nearly 400 people fell ill after consuming tara flour, a secret GRAS ingredient, showing the risks of unreviewed chemicals.

Calls for Regulatory Reform

EWG urges the FDA to ban secret GRAS determinations, ensure independent scientific review, and reassess long-used ingredients. Meanwhile, states like New York and California are introducing laws to increase transparency and protect consumers.

Source: EWG