Click here for a comprehensive overview and history of the FEMA GRAS program.
If your company is interested in applying for FEMA GRAS, please contact Sean Taylor (staylor@vertosolutions.net), Scientific Secretary to the FEMA Expert Panel.
Introduction
It is recognized that methods of production may affect the safety assessment of food ingredients (FDA, 2012). Flavoring substances may be produced in a variety of ways and the FEMA Expert Panel’s assessments to determine the status of flavor ingredients as “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) includes a review of the method of production for the ingredients. This statement addresses how recent developments in new methods of production of flavoring substances are addressed within the FEMA GRAS program.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is a non-governmental lobbying organization that took in $35 million in 2022, largely by scaring consumers about the food they eat. A recent reporti from CSPI grossly misrepresents flavor safety and the FEMA GRAS program to further their fundraising interest under the guise of protecting consumers. Interestingly, CSPI contradicts themselves within their own report—asserting falsehoods about FEMA GRAS in the executive summary while providing citations to the contrary within the report’s chapters.
The Flavor Ingredient Library provides information on ingredients that have been determined to be generally recognized as safe under conditions of intended use as flavor ingredients by the FEMA Expert Panel.
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FEMA has earned a distinguished reputation for effective action and scientific excellence, both in the United States and abroad, through the performance of its services to the flavor industry for over 100 years. FEMA attributes this to the high degree of participation from its members in substantive association activities.
Select webinars are available to non-members for purchase. Take a look!
General Webinars
Previously conducted online or in-person offerings. Learn at your convenience!
The Class A Active Members of this association shall consist of such individuals, firms and corporations that are either based in the United States, or doing business in the United States through a related business entity, and that are engaged in the manufacture or sale to unrelated parties of flavors or flavor ingredients and syrups.
First posted May 2013
Revised September 2018
The Use of Flavors in ENDS and Flavored Tobacco Products
In 1995, the Board of Governors created the Dr. Richard L. Hall Distinguished Service Award to honor Dr. Hall, whose career has been marked by unique commitment and service to the flavor industry. The award pays tribute to those who have shown outstanding dedication to the advancement of our industry and to the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association.
The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association of the United States (FEMA) is composed of flavor manufacturers, flavor users, flavor ingredient suppliers, and others with an interest in the U.S. flavor industry. Founded in 1909, it is the national association of the U.S. flavor industry. FEMA is committed to assuring a substantial supply of safe flavoring substances.
People have been using spices and other flavorings to add zest to their food and their lives since well before recorded history. From early times, flavors have been part of a quest to make life more enjoyable and to help make foods and beverages taste better.
