Consumer Reports, published by the 7 million-member nonprofit Consumers Union, last week reported on survey results showing the public expects laboratory-produced meat from cultured animal cells to be clearly labeled. The results show the public favors different language that those pushing the new products.
“By an overwhelming margin, our survey found that consumers want clear…
Tomorrow’s planned publication of a new federal rule on substances in food that are “generally recognized as safe” — GRAS — has already drawn fire that includes possible congressional action. The Food and Drug Administration’s final rule on GRAS substances in human and animal food is scheduled to take effect 60 days after it is…
The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) recently launched its online Flavor Ingredient Library, a free resource for researchers, the media, and consumers seeking information on substances that are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use as flavor ingredients. The library includes all such flavor ingredients, links to related publications, access to safety assessment…
A team of scientists is genetically engineering plants to produce antimicrobial proteins known as colicins, which can then be extracted and applied to contaminated meat and produce to kill E. coli bacteria. In a study published earlier this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team engineered tobacco, leafy beets, spinach,…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized its determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. The move, based on “a thorough review of the scientific evidence,” essentially bans artificial trans fat from the…
A 38-page petition was filed Wednesday with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calling for a total ban on eight synthetic flavorings that may currently be used in minute amounts in baked goods, candy and ice cream. Petition sponsors say the substances have been known to cause cancer in lab animals and should be…
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is studying the regulatory comment submitted by consumer groups two weeks ago, suggesting that its rule for the process of determining food substances as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) be altered before it’s finalized. During last week’s Food Safety Summit in Baltimore, Michael Taylor, FDA’s Deputy Commissioner for Foods…
Since the Obama administration took over the executive branch more than six years ago, foodborne illnesses from meat, poultry and eggs — products regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — has been falling. In fact, just from fiscal year 2013 to 2014, illnesses from meat and poultry has fallen by 10 percent, according to…
Last year, the Food and Drug Administration agreed to finalized its rule for the process of determining food substances as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS). Now, a coalition of consumer advocacy groups has submitted an 80-page regulatory comment to the agency requesting that FDA make changes to the rule before it becomes final. FDA’s 1997 …
The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) published a lengthy investigative report on Tuesday summarizing the safety concerns associated with GRAS (generally recognized as safe) food additives, the controversies surrounding how they’re determined, and barriers to regulating them. The report’s key illustration of the concerns about GRAS was a peanut-related legume called lupin — sometimes spelled…
