FDA proposes expanding exemption for chemicals in food
The current threshold-of-regulation concentration threshold is 0.5 parts per billion.
The FDA has proposed expanding the threshold-of-regulation exemption so some chemicals could be added directly to food without a conventional safety review. Public health advocates and experts warn the change could permit harmful exposures.
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The Food and Drug Administration is proposing to expand the threshold-of-regulation exemption to cover chemicals added directly to food.
“The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to expand a controversial loophole to allow some of the world’s most toxic chemicals to be added directly to food without a safety review.”
The proposed exemption would cover uses including flavorings, preservatives, emulsifiers, processing aids, enzymes, stabilizers and binders.
“The new proposed TOR expansion would allow companies to use the chemicals as an ingredient added directly to food, as flavorings, preservatives, emulsifiers, processing aids, enzymes, stabilizers and binders”
The current threshold-of-regulation exemption applies to substances in food-contact materials below the stated concentration threshold when they are not carcinogenic.
“The “threshold of regulation” (TOR) exemption currently allows dangerous compounds to be used without review in food contact materials, such as packaging or processing equipment, if they are not carcinogenic”