FDA Proposes Banning Brominated Vegetable Oil and Reviewing Food Additive Regulations

In a recent important proposal, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a ban on the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food and continued to assess the safety of other chemical substances. Behind this proposal is a deep concern for human health and well - being, as well as the progress of scientific research. Below, we will delve into the legal background and potential impact of this policy change.

The FDA has extensive legal powers to regulate in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug, andCosmetics & Personal CareCosmetic Act (FD&C Act) to ensure the safety of food on the US market. According to this act, any food additive must be approved by the FDA before use. The FDA defines a food additive as any substance intentionally added during the processing of food, and the uses of these substances may include improving the color, taste, and shelf - life of food.

Brominated vegetable oil was once classified as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substance, but over time, doubts have arisen about the safety of BVO. Recently, the FDA conducted a priority review of the use of BVO under 21 CFR §170.3, which stipulates the safety assessment procedures for food additives. FDA scientists assess the potential health risks of chemical substances based on available data and consider whether their use in food should be prohibited or restricted.

The legal action in California to ban the use of BVO foreshadowed the regulatory changes across the country. According to California regulations, the ban on the use of certain chemical substances is based on concerns about the potential health problems these substances may cause. Now, the FDAs proposal extends this ban to ensure that all US consumers do not ingest substances considered to have potential health risks.

除了BVO，FDA也在重新审视FD&C红色3号的使用。根据第21章CFR第74.303条款，该色素添加剂是为食品、药物和化妆品着色而特别批准的。然而，根据FD&C法案第409(b)(3)节，如果任何食品添加剂被发现会”合理地”导致癌症，则必须禁止其使用。因此，FDA正在根据最新科学证据和法规框架，评估FD&C红色3号的风险。

As scientific research progresses, legal rules must also evolve to reflect new understandings and protect consumers from potential chemical risks. This proposal by the FDA is an important exercise of its regulatory function.