The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a direct final rule on August 9 to solidify the agency's June 2015 determination that partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) are no longer "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). Although PHOs have already been determined to be unsafe in foods, the FDA is now reinforcing a series of "noncontroversial amendments" given the public health risks associated with PHOs and the increasing use of PHO alternatives.
Specifically, the direct final rule revises regulations to no longer include PHOs as an optional ingredient in the identity standards for peanut butter and canned tuna. It revises FDA GRAS affirmation regulations to no longer include partially hydrogenated forms of menhaden and rapeseed oils. It revokes the regulation for partially hydrogenated fish oil as an indirect food substance. And finally, it revokes pre-1958 authorization for using PHOs in margarine, shortening, bread, rolls and buns.
