The GRAS status

"Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) is a designation given by the US Food and Drug Administration to substances that can be used as preservatives in food without posing any health risks. It is a special status that is only awarded to substances that are demonstrably safe and have been used in the food industry for a long time. However, GRAS status is not a guarantee that a substance is completely safe. Rather, it is an indicator that the substance is relatively safe to use in certain quantities and applications.

GRAS substances must fulfill certain criteria to receive this status. The criteria are based on scientific evidence and are set by the FDA. The most important criteria are

• General recognition: The substance must be generally recognized as safe for use in food. This can be proven by use in the food industry over long periods of time.
• Scientific data: Sufficient scientific data must be available to prove the safety of the substance.
• Expert opinions: There must be expert opinions from scientists or authorities confirming that the substance is safe.

Examples of substances with GRAS status

There are a variety of substances that have GRAS status. Here are some examples:

• Salt: Salt is a preservative that is used in many foods and has GRAS status.
• Sugar: Sugar is also a GRAS substance and is used as a sweetener in many foods.
• Acetic acid: Acetic acid is used as a preservative and acidifier in many foods.
• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a GRAS substance that is used as an antioxidant and preservative in food.
• Sodium benzoate: Sodium benzoate is a GRAS substance that is used as a preservative in many foods.

Advantages of GRAS status

GRAS status offers various advantages for the food industry. Firstly, companies can use GRAS substances without prior approval from the FDA, which speeds up the process and saves costs. On the other hand, consumers can be sure that GRAS substances have been classified as safe after careful testing and on the basis of scientific data.

Meaning of the GRAS status

The GRAS status is an important indicator of the safety of food additives. It shows that the substances in question have been used in the food industry for a long time and that there is sufficient scientific data to prove their safety.