Propyl paraben is the latest focus in the debate concerning additives that are “generally recognized as safe,” or GRAS. The overall concern of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and other food safety advocates is that ingredients get defined as GRAS without pre-market review and approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). When it comes to propyl paraben specifically, EWG says that the preservative used in cosmetics and foods to protect against microbial growth disrupts the endocrine system and should therefore be removed from food.
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