US agency did not perform safety checks of more than 100 food ingredients, analysis finds

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

US agency did not perform safety checks of more than 100 food ingredients, analysis finds

Review of FDA records by the Environmental Working Group reveals firms are exploiting rule to send new chemicals in food system

Tom Perkins
Sat 7 Mar 2026 13.00 GMT
Last modified on Sat 7 Mar 2026 13.02 GMT

More than 100 substances widely used in common US foods, supplements and beverages underwent no health and safety review by the US Food and Drug Administration, a new analysis of federal records finds.

The review of FDA records by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) non-profit reveals that diverse products across the food pyramid, such as Capri Sun drinks, Kettle and Fire organic broth, Acme smoked fish, and Quaker Oats snack bars, use a range of substances that have not undergone review by regulators.

Companies are using the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) rule that was developed in 1958 to allow ingredients such as salt or white vinegar to be used without a burdensome and needless review process.

But companies are increasingly exploiting the rule and sending potentially dangerous new chemicals or substances into the food system without scrutiny, EWG found. Some of these have caused health problems. In 2022, food made with the GRAS ingredient tara flour was believed to have caused over 300 illnesses and 113 hospitalizations.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/07/fda-food-product-safety-checks-substances

[paleotn]

1. Stay away from processed foods as much as you can...

That's where the food industry slips in these substances. Generally, if you can't pronounce an ingredient or don't have a clue what it is, don't eat it. Granted, not everything in that group is harmful. But just about everything that is harmful IS in that group. Makes life a bit less convenient but I don't have to worry whether I'm being used as a food industry test subject. A guinea pig.

[mwmisses4289]

2. Many of these ingredients use the Latin name.

Or perhaps more accurately, hide behind a Latin name. Since many of us didn't learn Latin, these names are hard to pronounce (i learned 1 year in high school, and I still can't pronounce some of these words!). Also, if I'm not sure what something, I usually look it up. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it makes it even more confusing.

[FakeNoose]

3. Is the FDA getting paid to look the other way on certain foods?

It wouldn't surprise me a bit. I hope we hear from a few industrial whistleblowers soon.