Representative Jan Schakowsky introduces Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2021 to the United States House of Representatives; the bill would require the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regularly review the chemicals used in foods, particularly those approved through the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) rule; would establish an Office of Food Safety Reassessment and reestablish a food advisory committee
June 11, 2021
Toxic Free Food Act introduced in US
Representative Rosa DeLauro introduces Toxic Free Food Act to United States House of Representatives; bill would require US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publicly review all chemicals related to food that are currently allowed under the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) rule; novel chemicals and carcinogens would no longer be allowed under GRAS
September 24, 2020
Petition calls for US FDA to consider cumulative effects
Coalition requests US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to follow its own mandate to consider cumulative effects of chemicals present during safety assessments; covers chemicals directly added to food, substances migrating from food packaging, substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS); finds only 1 of 877 existing GRAS notifications adhered to requirement
July 31, 2019
Industry coalition backs FDA’s GRAS rule
Safe Food Ingredients Coalition advocates for court judgement supporting U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s food additive notification process; responses from plaintiffs due August 23, 2019
June 25, 2019
FDA defends GRAS rule
U.S. Food and Drug Administration argues notification program for food additives generally recognized as safe is reasonable; calls for court to judge in its favor in ongoing litigation
April 29, 2019
NGOs file for decision on GRAS rule
Environmental Defense Fund and Center for Food Safety file motion for summary judgement to district court challenging U.S. FDA’s rule on use of substances generally recognized as safe
September 17, 2018
Update: NGOs challenge final GRAS rule
U.S. court rules against FDA’s request to dismiss NGO-lawsuit on ‘generally recognized as safe’ rule
September 12, 2018
Chemicals in plastics leaching into food
Article in Vox summarizes health concerns related to chemicals in plastic food packaging, discuss U.S. regulatory system, recommend actions to limit exposure
November 16, 2017
FDA guidance on forming GRAS panels
U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues draft guidance for industry with recommendations for choosing experts to make GRAS determinations; comments can be submitted until January 16, 2018 and May 15, 2018
May 26, 2017
NGOs sue FDA over final GRAS rule
Environmental Defense Fund and other NGOs file lawsuit challenging U.S. FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) practice allowing industry to make self-determinations of food additives’ safety