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The FDA proposes making “GRAS” ingredient notices mandatory
The FDA’s 2026 US proposal would make voluntary GRAS notices mandatory, with certain exceptions.
Published · 3 sources
The FDA calls GRAS “generally recognized as safe.” It says a GRAS use is not subject to premarket food-additive review and approval.1,2
The FDA says GRAS notices are currently voluntary. Its proposal would make them mandatory, with certain exceptions.2
The FDA’s proposal covers substances used in human and animal food. The agency includes ingredients and substances added indirectly, such as from food packaging.1,2
The FDA sets Dec 9, 2026 as the comment deadline for this proposal. The agency lists docket FDA-2025-N-3262.1
Consumer Reports says more than 115,000 people called for FDA limits on food additives. Its petition asks the FDA to close the GRAS loophole.3
Sources
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Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (proposed rule, FR Doc. 2026-16296)
“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is proposing to require the submission of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) notices for the use of a human or animal food substance purported to be GRAS under the conditions of its intended use”
federalregister.gov
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Substances Generally Recognized as Safe, proposed rule (91 FR 51834, full text)
“Convert the voluntary GRAS notification program to a mandatory GRAS notification program”
govinfo.gov
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More than 115,000 Consumers Call On FDA to Limit Food Additives, Fix GRAS Loophole (press release)
“More than 115,000 people have called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to limit dangerous additives in food”
advocacy.consumerreports.org
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