Trans fats may lose GRAS status

Source：U.S. FDA Release Date：2013-11-08 276

Food & Beverage

FDA opens 60-day comment period on measure to further reduce trans fat in processed foods

THE U.S. Food and Drug Administration has made a preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in food. A final decision would mean that the use of these oils in the food supply would be phased out over a number of years.

Removal of trans fats from the food supply could prevent up to 7,000 deaths from heart disease each year.

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The U.S. FDA has required industry to declare the amount of trans fat in food on the Nutrition Facts label since 2006. The agency’s data indicate that many processed foods have been reformulated to reduce the amount of trans fat since the requirement was instituted, but a substantial number of products still contain PHOs.

If, after reviewing comments received, FDA determines that PHOs are not GRAS, PHOs could not be used in foods unless authorized by a regulation. One of our core regulatory functions is ensuring that food, including all substances added to food, is safe.

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