Investigation Reveals Secret Additives in U.S. Food Supply

A recent investigation by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has uncovered that at least 111 substances of unknown safety have been added to foods, drinks, and supplements in the United States without the oversight of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This practice exploits a loophole in the "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) standard, allowing manufacturers to self-determine the safety of new ingredients without independent review. Melanie Benesh, vice president for government affairs at EWG, emphasized that this loophole has led to a situation where food companies can add unreviewed chemicals to products, undermining consumer safety.

CNNInvestigation Finds 'Secretly' Added Chemicals of Unknown Safety in US Food Supply

The GRAS standard requires that new food ingredients be proven safe through widely accepted scientific evidence. However, the current system allows manufacturers to bypass this requirement, leading to a lack of transparency regarding the safety of food additives. The investigation identified 49 of the 111 chemicals in approximately 4,000 products listed in the USDA's FoodData Central database. Many of these substances are extracts from natural foods, such as green tea, aloe vera, and mushrooms, which can have significantly different health effects compared to their whole food counterparts.

Investigation Finds 'Secretly' Added Chemicals of Unknown Safety in US Food Supply

Biochemist Maricel Maffini, who coauthored the EWG investigation, noted that concentrated extracts can pose health risks. For instance, while whole green tea is associated with health benefits, concentrated green tea extracts have been linked to liver damage. Similarly, aloe vera extracts, often perceived as safe, can cause cancer when unpurified. The investigation also highlighted the dangers of mushroom extracts, which can lead to severe allergic reactions or adverse interactions with medications.

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The investigation points to a long-standing issue with the GRAS system. A 2014 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council revealed that 56 companies relied on undisclosed GRAS determinations for 275 chemicals. The FDA has historically been slow to act on safety concerns, as evidenced by the delayed removal of tara flour from the GRAS list following reports of liver injuries. Dr. Pieter Cohen, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, criticized the regulatory system, stating that it often takes significant health incidents for the FDA to investigate potentially harmful substances.

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In response to the investigation, Andrew Nixon, deputy assistant secretary for media relations at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stated that reforms are underway to strengthen oversight of the GRAS pathway. Proposed changes aim to enhance transparency and require greater notification from manufacturers regarding ingredient safety. However, experts like Cohen express skepticism about the effectiveness of these reforms, suggesting that without significant legislative changes, many untested ingredients will remain in the food supply.

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Critics argue that the self-determination of safety by food companies presents a clear conflict of interest. Mathilde Touvier, director of research at France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research, stated that safety assessments should be conducted by independent public health authorities rather than the food industry itself. The investigation underscores the urgent need for reform in the regulatory framework governing food safety in the United States.

Investigation Finds 'Secretly' Added Chemicals of Unknown Safety in US Food Supply

• “Food companies are deciding on their own to secretly add unreviewed chemical ingredients to products instead of following existing federal guidelines meant to assure food is ‘generally recognized as safe,’ or GRAS,” — Melanie Benesh, Vice president for government affairs, Environmental Working Group

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• “It is highly problematic that companies are allowed to self-determine that their own ingredients are ‘GRAS,’ given the obvious financial conflict of interest,” — Mathilde Touvier, Director of research, France's National Institute of Health and Medical Research

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• “When it comes down to where the rubber meets the road, the administration is basically asking the industry politely to adhere to the intent of the law, which is no different than the situation we have now. I've seen nothing game-changing in terms of improving the safety of our food supply.” — Pieter Cohen, Associate professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School

Investigation Finds 'Secretly' Added Chemicals of Unknown Safety in US Food Supply