Generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status is a label used by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
If a substance has GRAS status, this means that the substance is considered safe when added to foods in expected amounts. If a manufacturer wants to add a substance to a food, they must apply for approval from the FDA unless that substance is already on the GRAS list. The FDA grants GRAS status after reviewing the evidence for safety.
GRAS status does not indicate whether or not a substance is safe when used in larger amounts than what is generally expected, or when used as a supplement. It also does not indicate whether a substance is safe when applied topically or inhaled.
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