FDA Finds 111 Secret Food Additives
A new investigation revealed that at least 111 chemicals of unknown safety have been added to US foods and drinks without FDA or public knowledge. Many substances are classified as "generally recognized as safe" by manufacturers, bypassing independent review and prompting calls for transparency reforms.
The "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) provision dates back to 1958, originally intended for common ingredients like vinegar and salt with a long history of safe use. However, a 1997 FDA rule created a voluntary notification system, effectively allowing manufacturers to self-certify new ingredients without informing the agency. This investigation, conducted by the Environmental Working Group, found that food and chemical companies have increasingly used this GRAS loophole. An analysis by the organization revealed that nearly 99% of new food chemicals introduced since 2000 have bypassed the formal FDA review process through this self-certification pathway. The 111 secretly-added substances are not minor ingredients; 49 of them were found in approximately 4,000 products listed in the USDA's public food database. These include items like cereals, snack bars, and sports drinks, meaning consumers may be unknowingly ingesting chemicals that have never undergone a federal safety review. One example of the potential danger is tara flour, a "secret GRAS" ingredient. In 2022, products containing it were linked to serious illnesses in nearly 400 people. Another substance found in over 450 products is a form of aloe vera, which the FDA banned from over-the-counter laxatives in 2002 due to concerns about links to cancer and kidney damage. In response to these issues, the FDA has proposed a new rule for its spring 2026 agenda that would eliminate the self-affirmation process for GRAS status. This change would require companies to submit all new ingredients for FDA review, a move aimed at increasing transparency and public safety. This regulatory push at the federal level follows action from states. New York, for example, introduced the Food Chemical Disclosure Act, which would compel companies to report any ingredient they have self-declared as GRAS to the state. These legislative efforts aim to close the loophole that critics say has turned "generally recognized as safe" into "generally recognized as secret."
