GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe, or Cause for General Concern?
By: Blake Jackson
Many food ingredients and food additives have not been reviewed by the FDA for food safety. This is currently allowed because of a 1958 provision added to the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act excluding substances generally recognized as safe from classification as a food additive. Technological advances and an ingredients list that has expanded exponentially since 1958 calls into question the usefulness of this means of regulation or lack thereof.
