FDA to revisit approval of “yoga mat” bread ingredient banned in Europe

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced plans to reevaluate its approval of the food additive ADA, also known as azodicarbonamide. This chemical, commonly referred to as the “yoga mat” chemical, has been used to whiten cereal flour and improve the baking of bread dough in the United States. However, it has been banned in Europe due to concerns about its potential health risks.

Advocacy groups have long criticized the use of ADA in food products, pointing to its other uses in the manufacturing of plastics and rubbers. In Europe, the addition of ADA to bread is illegal because it can break down into chemicals that may lead to the formation of a possible carcinogen called semicarbazide during the bread-making process.

International health authorities have also raised concerns about the safety of ADA in food. In response to these concerns, the FDA has decided to revisit its approval of the food additive. The agency previously stated that it believed ADA was safe for consumption, citing studies that showed semicarbazide could cause tumors in mice but only at levels significantly higher than what people would typically consume through bread and other foods.

In addition to ADA, the FDA is considering adding other food additives to its list for renewed safety reviews. Two preservatives, BHT and BHA, have faced similar concerns over their potential to cause cancer. The agency’s acting deputy commissioner for the Human Foods Program, Kyle Diamantas, announced a new plan to increase scrutiny of previously approved food chemicals. This plan includes the development of a modernized, evidence-based prioritization scheme for reviewing chemicals in the food supply.

The FDA’s systematic process for reviewing the safety of chemicals in the food supply is expected to be finalized soon. The Biden administration proposed a more formal approach to this process last year, which received over 70,000 comments. Diamantas mentioned that details of this process will be released in the near future.

Overall, the FDA’s decision to reevaluate the approval of ADA and prioritize the safety review of other food additives reflects the agency’s commitment to ensuring the safety of the food supply. Stay tuned for updates on these developments in food regulation.