Lead in Food and Color Additives and GRAS Ingredients; Request for Data

Resumo

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that it intends to take several related actions to reduce the amount of lead in food from the use of food and color additives and food ingredients whose use is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). This action is part of its ongoing efforts to reduce the levels of lead in food. In this document, the agency is identifying the lead levels that it intends to propose as new, lower lead specifications for the most heavily used food and color additives and GRAS ingredients. Before proposing these specifications, however, the agency is requesting information on whether these levels are feasible, and, if they are not, information on why higher levels will not endanger the public health, and on what levels are feasible. The agency is requesting specific data and information on the lead levels and the methods for detecting lead in these substances. Additionally, the agency is requesting information on the economic and environmental effects of lowering the lead levels.