FDA may allow some toxic chemicals to be added to food without safety review
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
FDA proposes expanding a loophole to allow toxic chemicals in food without safety review.
The FDA's proposed expansion of the "threshold of regulation" (TOR) exemption would allow toxic chemicals as direct food additives, including flavorings and preservatives, without safety review. Currently limited to food contact materials under 0.5 ppb, the expansion ignores that hormone disruptors like perchlorate cause harm below that level. Perchlorate, used in grain bags, was linked to increased levels in kids' cereal and brain damage. Critics say the rule, quietly added alongside RFK Jr's promised closure of the GRAS loophole, represents a win for big food based on flawed science that disregards cumulative effects and endocrine harms.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are sharply divided. Some condemn the administration's actions as harmful, citing perchlorate's documented risks to children. Others criticize the article's framing, noting that "rocket fuel" rhetoric is misleading and that chemicals like perchlorate are used for static control, not propulsion. One commenter dismisses Prop 65 warnings as overblown, citing acrylamide from burnt toast as an example of diluted risk communication. A counter-camp defends Prop 65's logic while acknowledging its implementation flaws. A top-ranked comment promotes the Taiwan Gold Card visa as an escape from US food safety concerns, attracting follow-ups on remote work logistics.