The American Academy of Pediatrics wants the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to tighten up its regulatory oversight of food additives so that negative health effects from colorings, flavorings and food ingredients, plus some packaging chemicals, are less likely to occur, according to Food Navigator.
In the August issue of the journal Pediatrics, the group said the FDA’s current requirements for the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation aren’t sufficient to ensure food additives aren’t harmful, and don’t contain enough protections against conflicts of interest.
Of particular concern to the AAP are bisphenols, which are used in the lining of metal cans to prevent corrosion; phthalates, used in adhesives and plasticizers during the manufacturing process; perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), used in grease-proof paper and paperboard food packaging; perchlorate, used for packaging in contact with dry foods with surfaces that do not contain free fat or oil; nitrates and nitrites; and artificial food coloring.
