Ever glanced at a food label and wondered how all those ingredients got approved? In this episode, we’re talking about GRAS “Generally Recognized as Safe” a little acronym that plays a big role in what goes on your plate. From flavor enhancers to preservatives, we’ll walk through how certainsubstances earn the GRAS stamp, how the system works, and what’s being done to keep it trustworthy. It’s all about food safety, transparency, and helping you feel more confident in the choices you make at the grocery store.Fact Check: There are 2 types of antifreeze:

• Ethylene Glycol - Highly toxic to humans and animals, used in antifreeze for cars, taste sweet and can cause kidney failure, not allowed in food.
• Propylene Glycol - low toxicity, used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and food, considered GRAS because it is considered safe in small amounts. Used to hold in moisture and allows foods to be shelf stable.

Sources:

FDA GRAS Overview: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/generally-recognized-safe-gras

FDA, GRAS Notification: https://www.fda.gov/food/generally-recognized-safe-gras/how-us-fdas-gras-notification-program-works FDA GRAS Notification: https://www.fda.gov/food/generally-recognized-safe-gras/about-gras-notification-program GAO Report on GRAS Oversight (2010): https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-10-246 FDA Removal of Trans Fats (2015): https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/removing-trans-fatFDA Understanding how the FDA regulates FoodAdditives and GRAS: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-and-gras-ingredients-information-consumers/understanding-how-fda-regulates-food-additives-and-gras-ingredients Is it really FDA approved? https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/it-really-fda-approved