New GRAS Database Increases Transparency

PUYALLUP, Wash.AIBMR Life Sciences released the first GRAS Self-Determination Inventory Database (GSID ) during the SupplySide West Expo in Las Vegas. The database was created in response to criticisms of the GRAS certification process brought on by a 3-year investigation into food additive regulations by The Pew Health Group.

A key concern of the program is that the companies that opt to self-determine GRAS status are not legally required to  notify the FDA. According to the Pew Health Group, this procedure raises doubts as to whether the FDA would agree with the self-determined GRAS status. The Pew Health Group also claims that of the 10,000 chemicals added to food, "3,000 have never gone through an FDA review, and, for at least 1,000 of these, the FDA has received no notification at all," leaving the FDA in the dark concerning roughly 30% of chemical ingredients.

AIBMR's creation of the GSID database addresses the recent calls for transparency in the self-affirmation GRAS process, as well as the recommendation of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) that at least some basic information, such as the substances identity" be made known.