GRAS status

When the US Food and Drug Administration judges a food additive to pose no health risk to consumers, it awards GRAS status, short for Generally Recognized As Safe. The verdict rests on a history of safe use or on scientific evidence examined by qualified experts, and it is the main gateway through which flavours, enzymes and processing aids enter the American market. Manufacturers or independent expert panels compile the safety dossier, and the FDA publishes its response letters so the basis of each decision stays transparent.