GRAS Act

Key Points

• The bill ends the practice of letting companies decide on their own that a new food ingredient is 'generally recognized as safe.' Companies would have to notify the FDA and get a formal no-objection statement before using any new GRAS substance.
• Companies must submit detailed scientific data showing an ingredient is not linked to cancer, reproductive harm, or developmental problems, and must disclose any conflicts of interest among the scientists who did the research.
• The FDA must post safety notices online and give the public at least 60 days to comment before deciding whether to allow a new ingredient in food.
• Starting three years after the law takes effect, and every three years after that, the FDA must re-check the safety of at least 10 substances already used in food, color additives, or food packaging materials.
• Food companies will pay new fees to help fund the FDA's review of additive notices and reassessments, aiming to cover the full cost of these safety checks.