Statements to 60 Minutes on ultraprocessed foods and GRAS

The Consumer Brands Association and the American Farm Bureau Federation issued statements to CBS's 60 Minutes program on Sunday regarding its report titled 'Generally Recognized as Safe,' which examined the safety and regulation of ultraprocessed foods in the American food supply. The 60 Minutes investigation questioned whether the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) designation system adequately protects consumers from potential health risks associated with heavily processed foods. This system allows food manufacturers to determine certain ingredients as safe without prior FDA approval, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and insufficient oversight. Both organizations provided their perspectives amid growing public scrutiny of processed foods and their health impacts, representing the food manufacturing and agricultural sectors' positions on this contentious issue. The statements come as consumer awareness about food ingredients and processing methods continues to increase, prompting debates about transparency, regulation, and public health.