-·���J .n.�'-" ..�.� · ··• .. � '"·' .1 ..... �•-· : ·•·'· "�' ' '''· - ·· • • • •• • ••• �".._ •..-_...,. ···� 1 1 XO RESPONSIBILITY is assumed by thP Institute 0! Food Technologists for statement� and up1m�ms ��prcsse( i dJ)·th e c ontributorstoitspubiica.uons. Copyright © 1972 by Institute of Food Technologists. All R1ghts Reserve . RECENT PROGRESS in the Consideration of Flavoring Ingredients Under the Food Additives Amendment 5. GRAS Substances BERNARD L. OSER and RICHARD L. HALL D RESEARCH in the field of food flavors has been greatly stimulated by the application of modern ana­ lytical techniques, particularly gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy, which have permitted the iden­ tification of the chemical components of many natural flavors (1-5). As a consequence, improved artificial flavoring agents have been and are being developed which faithfully reproduce the nuances of natural fla­ vors and intensify their characteristic properties. THE EXPERT PANEL It has been the policy of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) to urge member companies to submit to an independent panel of qual­ ified scientists, flavoring substances intended for com­ mercial application, whether or not they are analogs of natural substances, for appraisal of safety under conditions of proposed use. Results of this expert panel's GRAS (generally recognized as safe) evalua­ · tions have been published in Food Technology (6-9). The basis for selection of the original panel of tox­ icologists, pharmacologists, and biochemists, has �een previously described (7). It should be emphasized that the members of the panel were affiliated with aca­ demic institutions and organizations having no con­ nection with the flavoring industry, either directly or indirectly. The panel that evaluated the items re­ ported herein consisted of: Dr. Anthony M. Ambrose, Medical College of Virginia; Dr. Frank R. Blood, Van­ derbilt University; Dr. David W. Fassett, Eastman Kodak Company; Dr. Horace W. Gerarde, Fairleigh Dickinson University; Dr. Maurice H. Seevers, Uni­ versitv of Michigan; Dr. Howard C. Spencer, Dow Chem"ical Co.; Dr. Frank M. Strong, University of 'Wisconsin; Dr. Lauren A. Woods, Medical College of Virginia. WHY PUBLISH GRAS LISTS? Data concerning the usage levels of flavoring sub­ stances,_ and_all available scientific information rele­ vant to safety evaluation have been the basis for the development over a period of several years of lists of GRAS flavoring substances. The policy of FEMA to publish the GRAS lists has resulted in their receiving wide recognition. The Federal Food And Drug Ad­ ministration has adopted (with very few deletions) the first such list of substances in the form of two Food Additive Regulations ( 10). It has been the view of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with which there can be no disagree­ ment, that only by publication can the scientific com­ munity have the opportunity to comment on, or take issue with, the opinion of other specialists in the field of food safety evaluation. The purpose of the present report is to present the additions to the list of GRAS substances made in 1970-71. CRITERIA FOR JUDGEMENTS The criteria employed by the Expert Panel in arriv­ ing at judgements of GRAS status have been discussed in previous publications of GRAS lists (6-9) and in a review on the safety of flavoring substances by Hall and Oser ( 11). In essence, these requirements in­ clude evidence for the identity and purity of the sub­ stance, its chemicai and pharmacoiogicar reiation to structurally analogous substances, its presence and THE AUTHORS are respectively Chairman of Food and Drug Research Laboratories Incorporated, Maurice Ave. at 58th St., Maspeth, N.Y. 11378; and President of 1FT and Vice­ President of McCormick & Co., 11350 McCormick Rd., Hunt Valley, Md. 21030 GRAS substances . . Council (12), from which the following quotation is relevant. . For many substances that are functionally effective in ·food at dietary concentrations above 0.1 ppm, but still much below any reasonable judgment as to their max­ level as a naturally occurring constituent of foods, in­ tended use levels, and any pertinent metabolic or tox­ icologic data. From the accumulated experience in the evaluation of large numbers of chemically related sub­ stances has evolved certain general principles which have established the rationale and facilitated the pro­ cess of safety evaluation by the Expert Panel. imum safe level, as previously defined, there is need to arrive at estimates of toxicologically insignificant levels. For these substances, it is justifiable to employ accumu­ lated scientific experience and to recognize their struc­ tural analogy to other chemicals whose metabolism or toxicity is known. Reasoning by analogy may be used to arrive at conclusions of toxicological insignificance. If a substance meets all the following criteria, it may be presumed to be toxicologically insignificant at a level of 1.0 ppm or less in the human diet: 1. The substance in question is of known structure and purity; 2. It is structurally simple; 3. The structure suggests that the substance will be readily handled through known metabolic pathways; and 4. It is a member of a closely related group of sub­ stances, that, without known exception, are or can be presumed to be low in toxicity. TOXICOLOGICAL INSIGNIFICANCE A nationwide survey of the flavor and food indus­ tries conducted in 1960 revealed that of the 1121 sub­ stances on the FEMA GRAS list, 859 were estimated to be used in total amounts not exceeding 1000 lb an­ nually. Moreover, the average maximum use levels in food were below 10 ppm in 399 of these substances. These criteria of total annual usage and minimal lev­ els in foods, together with a safe history of common use in food, have been regarded by the FEMA panel as a basis for "toxicological insignificance," in the ab­ sence of any specific evidence or reasonable suspicion (based, for example, on chemical structure) to the contrary. In this connection, reference may be made to the recent guidelines for evaluating toxicological insignif­ icance published by the Food Protection Committee of the National Academy of Sciences-National Research TOTAL PER CAPITA INTAKE OF FLAVORING SUBSTANCES It is interesting to note in this connection that if a flavoring agent were used at a level of 10 ppm in every major category of flavored foods, the total per capita intake of that substance (based on USDA Food Con­ . sumption data for aU urbani�atcions) wou!a be 2,336 mg per day. This would be equivalent to 1.3 ppm of the total diet or 0.0334 mg per kg body weight for a 70 kg adult. On the highly exaggerated assumption of the daily ingestion of average portions of all classes of flavored foods and the presence of 10 ppm of flavor­ ing substance in each of them, the total daily intake would reach 11.5 mg or only 0.164 mg per kg body weight (Table 1). Nearly a decade has passed since the original survey · ·· . . . text I continued on p. 42 . . . Table I-TOTAL DAILY PER CAPITA INTAKE OF FLAVORING SUBSTANCES based on the exaggerated assumption of the daily ingestion of average portions of all classes of flavored foods and the presence of 10 ppm in each of them Flavored Food Consumptionc Class of Flavored food Soft drinks Flavor Component Flavor Component "Average per Householdb per Capita• at 10 ppm Portion" at (lb/wk) (g/day) (mg/day) (g/day) (mg/day) 5.09 100.3 1.00 540 5.40 1.36 26.8 0.268 90 0.90 0.52 10.2 0.102 40 340 0.40 3.40 0.48 3.28 9.5 64.6 0.095 0.646 120 1.20 0.45 0.31 0.38 8.9 6.1 7.5 0.089 0.061 0.075 2.336 1.30 0.0334 20 0.20 11.50 6.40 0.164 10 ppm Frozen milk desserts: ice cream, ice milk, sherbet Candy, toppings Baked goods• prepared mixes "other" bakery products Jelly, jam, fruit, gelatin puddings, ices popsicles, icings Condiments Total intake, mg per day Total intake, ppm diet • Total intake, mg per kg body weight (70 kg) • Includes u kes, pies, crackers_. muffins, biscuits, cookies, coffee ake, doughnuts b 3.29 persons e Household food consumption levels based on 1965-66 survey, U.S. Dept. of Agr icultur e (all urbani.zations) 4 lb pet household per week X 454 g 9 per upit& per day 3.29 persons X 7 days • 1800 g food per day (estimate bued on USDA Food Consumption sta tistics) �UK.Vt:Y Ul- rLAVUK.IN{.;J iNGK.cUitN l U�Al:lt: U:VtL� Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association average maximum use levels (in ppm) on which the expert panel based its judgements that the substances are generally recognized as safe. Meat, Baked Ice Cream, FEMA No. and Substance Gelatins Beverages Ices, Etc. Candy Goods & Puddings 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 3,250 2-Acetyl-3-ethyl pyrazine Meat Milk. Chewing Sauces, Dairy ments, Gum Soups Product Pickleo 10. 10. Cerealo 10. Cereals 3.0 CondiOther Category Uoea 2-Acetyl-3-ethyl-1,4-diazine (see 3,250) 3.251 2-Acetylpyridine 3.252 ,6-Aianine 3.0 10. .1.253 Allyl methyl trisulfide 5.0 3.0 3.0 10• 10. 10. 2.0 2.0 10. Cereals 10. 2.0 Allyl trisulfide (see 3,265) Aminoacetic acid (see 3,287) Aminoethanoic acid (see 3.287) Aminoglutaric acid (see 3,285) a-Aminoisocaproic acid (see 3,297) 2-Amino-3-methylpentanoic acid (see 3,295) 2-Amino-4-methylpentanoic acid (see 3,297) 2-Amino-3-mercaptopropanoic acid (see 3,263) a-Amino-,6-mercaptopropionic acid (see 3,263) 2-Amino-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (see 3,301) a-Amino--y-(methylthio) -butyric acid (see 3,301) a-Amino-,6-methylvaleric acid (see 3,295) 2-Aminopropanoic acid (see 3,252) .B·Aminopropionic acid see 3,252) a-Angelica lactone (see 3,293) 3,254 Arabinogalactan 3,255 L-Arabinose 85% 450. 1.256 Benzothiazole 450. • 0.5 Preserves 450. 450. 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.0 & Spreads 450 . 3,257 Bisl2-furfuryl) disulfide 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.258 Bis12-furfuryl) sulfide 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 0.1 3.259 3.0 Bisl2-methyl-3-furyl) disulfide 0.1 0.1 3.260 Bis (2-methyl-3-furyl) tetrasulfide 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Ce•eals 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 Cereals 0.1 100. Cereals 100. 3,261 2-sec-Butylcyclohexanone 25. 25. 150. 100. 1000. -y-Butyrolactone (see 3,291) Cinnamic acid. tetrahydrofurfuryl ester (see 3,320) Cyclohexapyrazine (see 3,321) 3,262 Cyclopentanethiol 0.1 Cyclopentyl mercaptan (see 3,262) 3,263. L-Cysteine 100. 3.264 4-Decenal 0.5 3.265 Diallyl trisulfide 100. 100. 100. 1.0 0.5 0.5 1.0 1-0 Difurfuryl disulfide (see 3,257) 1.0 Difurfuryl sulfide (see 3,258) 3,266 4,5-Dihydro-3(2H) thiopheoone 1.0 3.267 2,4-Dimethyl-5-acetylthiazole 1.0 1.0 1.0 10. 10. 0.3 4.0 6.0 5.0 1.0 6.0 1.0 _1.0 Cereals 1.0 10. 3.268 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentadione 1.0 Protein Foods 3.5 1.9 3,269 3,5-Dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentadione 2.4 3,270 •piro[2 ,4-Dithia-1-methyl-8-oxabicyclo [3.3.0] octane-3,3' (I' ·oxa-2' -methyl) cyclopentane] • and spiro[2,4-dithia-6-methyl-7-oxabicyclo[3.3.0 ]octaoe-3,3'- (1' -oxa-2-methyl) cyclopentane] 0.045 0.25 0.07 0.1 2,3-Dimethyl-1,4-diazine (see 3,271) 2,5-Dimethyl-1,4-diazine (see 3,272) 2,6-Dimethyl-1,4-diazine (see 3,273) 3,271 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. Protein Foods 0.4 Mayonnaise 2.4 Meat, Ice Cream, Baked Gelatins Meat Milk, Chewing Sauces, Dairy ments. Other Gum Soups Product Pickles Category Uses Beverages Ices, Etc. Candy Goods & Puddings 2.5-Dimethylpyra:cine 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 3.273 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 10. 6.0 20. FEMA No. and Substance Condi- .1.272 Cereals 10. Cereals 10. 3,274 4,5-Dimethylthiazole 20. 3,275 Dimethyl trisulfide 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.276 Dipropyl trisulfide 1.0 1.0 1.0 3.277 Disodium succinate 60. Cereals 60. 60. 60. 60. 3,3'-Dithio-bis(2·methylfuran) (see 3,259) 2.2'-Dithiodithiophene (see 3,323) 2-Ethyl-1,4-diazine (see 3,281) Ethyl 2,4-diketocaproate (see 3,278) 3.278 Ethyl 2,4-dioxohexanoate Hard Candy 20. 15. 120. 120. 10. Syrups 60. Jellies 30. 3.279 Ethyl 2-mercaptopropionato Mint Oils 0.1 0.1 1.2 10. 1.5 Jellied Produclo 0.2 Other 0.01 3.280 2-Ethyl- (3,5 and 6) -methoxypyrazine (85%) plus 2-Methyl-(3,5 and 6)-methoxypyrazine U3%l 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 Ethyl propyl ketone (see 3,290) 3.281 2-Ethylpyrazine 3.282 Ethyl thioacetate 10. 10. 10. 1.0 1.0 1. 0 5.0 5.0 10. 2.0 2.0 2.0 10. 1.0 10. 1.0 1.0 Furfuryl disulfide (see 3,257) 5.0 5.0 Cereals 5.0 10. 10. Cereals 10. 1.0 1.0 1.0 Cereals 1 .0 Furfuryl isovalerate (see 3,283) 3.283 Furfuryl 2-methylbutanoate 5.0 Furfuryl sulfide (see 3,258) 3.284 N -Fu rfurylpyrrole 2.0 1-(2-Furfuryl)pyrrole (see 3,284) 3.285 L-Glutamic acid 3,286 Glyceryl tripropanoate 3.287 Glycine Cereals 2.0 2.0 2.0 Cereals 400. 400. 400. 20. 50. Desserts 20. 150. 150. Preserves, Spreads 150. 1.0 15.0 150. 400. 400. 150. .roo. 150. Glycocoll (see 3,287) 3.288 2-Heptanol 0.5 0.5 5.0 Dips, Spreads 12. Salad Dressing 10. 80. .1.289 4-Heptenal (cis and trans) 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 Cereals 1.0 1.0 3.290 3-Hexanone 20. 20. 20. 20. 20. Cereals 20. 20. 3.291 4-Hydroxybutanoic acid lactone 10. 10. 10. 20. 0.3 0.3 5.0 10. 0.2 2.0 4.0 5.0 5.0 10. Cereals 20. 10. 3.292 3- (Hydroxymethyl) -2-octanone 10. 3.293 4-Hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone 3.294 5-Hydroxyundecanoic acid lactone 2.0 3.295 D.L-Isoleucine 50. 3.296 Isopropenylpyrazine 10. 2.0 25. 50. 10. 10. !0. 2.0 0.2 Cereals 2.0 1.0 10. Cereals 5.0 50. 50. 10. 10. 50. 50. 50. Cereals 50. Cereals 10. 2-lsopropenyl-1,4-diazine (see 3,296) Larch gum (see 3.254) 3.297 L-Leucine 50. 3.298 3-!\1ercapto-2-butanone 0.2 3.299 2-!\1ercaptomethylpyrazine 2·!\1ercaptonaphthalene (see 3 ,31 4) 60. 0.2 0.2 10. 0.2 10. 50. Cereals 50. Cereals 0.2 0.2 10. :\!�at, Ice Cream, FEMA No. and Substance Beverages Ices, Etc. 3,.100 3- Men.·apto-2:..-p-entanone Candy o.z-- 0.2 Meat Milk, Baked Gelatins Chewing Sauces. Dairy ments. Other Goods & Puddings Gum Soups Product Pickles Category Uses 0.2 0.2 0.2 50. 50. 50. Condi- Cereals 0.2 2- Mercaptopropionic acid, ethyl ester (see 3,279) Methanethiol n-butyrate (see 3,310) 3 . .'101 D,L·Methionine 50. 50. 10. 10. 0.8 0.8 0.8 Cereals 0.8 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 Cereals 1.2 9. 0 6.0 10. 10. 0.8 0.8 1.2 0.6 10. 10. 50. Cereals 10. 3.302 Methoxypyrazine Cereals 10. 2-Methoxy-1,4-diazine (see 3,302) Methyl allyl trisulfide (see 3,253) Methyl n-amyl carbinol (see 3,288) 3. .'J0.1 2-Methyl-1-butanethiol 3 ..104 3- Methyl-2-butanethiol .'1 . .'105 1-Methyl-2,3-cyclohexadione 0.2 2- Methyl-1,4-cliazine (see 3,309) 0.045 0.25 1.0 0.15 Protein Foods 0.5 0.1 0.4 1.2 2.5 Protein Food• 0.1 10. 10. 10. 10. 0.0005 0.05 0.5 7.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 5.0 3. .'J06 5H-5-Methyl-6,7 -dihydrocyclopenta [b] pyrazine 5- Methyl-2t3H) -furanone (see 3,293) .1..107 3-(5-Methyl-2-furyl) butanal 3-(5- Methyl-2-furyl)butyraldehyde (see 3,307) 2-Methyl-3-furyl disulfide (see 3,259) 2-Methyl-3-furyl tetrasulfide (see 3,260) Methyl n-heptyl carbinol (see 3,315) 3-Methylmercaptopropyl isothiocyanate (see 3,312) Methyl n-propyl carbinol (see 3,316) 2- (1- Methylpropyl)-cyclohexanone (see 3,261) 3. .'1 08 Methyl propyl trisulfide 2.0 2.0 2.0 Cereals 10. .1.309 2-Methylpyrazine Methyl 2-pyridyl ketone (see 3,251) 10. 10. 10. 3.310 Methyl thiobutyrate Protein Foods 5.0 0.06 3.311 Methyl thiofuroate 3.0 3.0 Frozen Pie 4.0 .'1.312 4. 0 3-Methylthiopropyl isothiocyanate Methyl tri•ulfide (see 3,275) 2-(1-Methylvinyi)pyrazine (see 3,296) 3..1/3 4-Methyl-5-vinylthiazole 2. 0 .1..114 2.0 2-Naphthalenthiol 2-Naphthyl mercaptan (see 3,314) 8.0 8. 0 6. 0 Cereal• 0.5 0.5 0.5 3.315 2-Nonanol Pectin sugar (see 3,255) 80. 15. 3.316 2-Pentanol 2.0 2.0 2.0 2.0 2. 0 3.317 2-Pentyl furan 3. 0 3. 0 3.0 3. 0 3. 0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 50. 50. 50. 3.318 3-Phenyl-4-pentenal 3 ..119 L- Proline Propionic acid, triglyceride (see 3,286) Propyl methyl trisulfide (see 3,308) Propyl trisulfide (see 3,276) Pyrazinemethanethiol (see 3,299) 2-Pyrrolidinecarboxylic acid (see-3,319) Sodium •uccinate (see 3,277) Succinic acid, disodium salt (see 3,277) 50. 50. Dips, Spreads 12. Cereals 2.0 Cereals 3.0 Cereals 1.0 Cereal• 50. 3.320 Tetrahydrofurfuryl cinnamate .1.•121 5,6, 7 ,8-Tetrahydroquinoxaline 3-Tetrahydrothiophenone (see 3,266) 3,3' -Tetrathio-bis (2-methylfuran) (see 3,260) 3,322 Thiamine hydrochloride 20. 20. 20. 5.0 5.0 5.0 50. 50. .1.323 0.15 2-Thienyl disulfide Thioacetic acid, ethyl ester (see 3,282) Thiobutyric acid, methyl ester (see 3,310) Thiofuroic acid, methyl ester (see 3,311) 2-Thionaphthol (see 3,314) 3-Thiophenone (see 3,266) 2.0 2.0 50. 0.1 5 1.0 50. 2.0 50. 0.15 3,324 30. 3,5,5-Trimethyl-1-hexanol 30. 3,325 2,4,5-Trimethylthiazol .. Tripropionin (see 3,2&>) ..1-Unclecalactone (see 3,294) /J· Vinylhydrocinnamaldehyde (see 3,318) Vitamin B, (see 3,322) 2.0 2.0 6.0 6.0 Cereal• 2.0 Cerealo 50. Cereals 0.15 text I cont. from p. 36 GRAS Substances . . . . of usage of flavoring substances by the food industry was conducted by the Flavor and Extract Manufac­ turers Association. The accumulated data from this survey were considered in relation to certain arbitrary daily consumption levels of the various categories of flavored food in arriving at the FEMA lists of GRAS flavoring substances published in 1960 and 1965. GRAS LIST REVIEWS & POSSIBLE REVISIONS Recognizing that the patterns of use of flavoring substances may change in both kind and degree, the FEMA undertook to repeat and extend the survey. It is currently underway (1972), concomitantly with the survey of GRAS food substances by the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council un­ der contract with the Food and Drug Administration. Data from both of these surveys will be computer­ ized and analyzed for the purpose of reviewing and possibly revising the status of substances listed therein. In this connection it should be recognized that the FEMA survey will cover all adjuncts and flavoring ingredients used in foods, including those originaily published in the FEMA GRAS list which were subse­ quently incorporated by the Food and Drug Adminis­ tration into Food Additive Regulations for natural and synthetic flavoring substances ( 10). REFERENCES (1) Hornstein, I. and Teranishi, R. 1967. The chemistry of flavor. Chern. and Eng. News. 45: 92. 1970. Constituents of citrus oils. Deutsch. Lebensm. Rundschau 66: 290. (3) Macleod, A.J. 1970. Flavor volatiles from some cooked vegetables. J. Food Sci. 35: 734. (4) Johnson, A.E., Nursten, H.E., and Williams, A.A. 1971. Fruit aromas. A survey of component identification. Part 2. Chem. and Indy. 556-565. (5) Downey, W.J. and Eiserle, R.J. 1971. Critical Reviews in Food (2) Ziegler, V.E. Technology. A Review ol the Literature Concerned with Flavor Research as it Applies to the Problem of the Flavor Industry. July 159. (6) Hall, R.L. 1960. Recent progress in the consideration of flavoring ingredients under the Food Additives Amendment. Food Techno!. 14: 1. (7) Hall, R.L. and Oser, B.L. 1961. Recent progress in the consider­ ation of flavoring ingredients under the Food Additives Amend­ ment. 2. Food Techno!. 15: 1. (8) Hall, R.L. and Oser, B.L. 1965. Recent progress in the consid­ eration of flavoring ingredients under the Food Additives Amend­ ment. 3. GRAS Sl!bstances. Food Techno!. 19: 151. (9) Hall, R.L. and Oser, B.L. 1970. Recent progress in the consider­ ation of flavoring ingredients under the Food Additives Amend­ ment. 4. GRAS substances. Food Techno!. 24: 25. (10) Code of Federal Regulations Title 21. Part 121. Sections 1163 and 1164. Superintendent of Documents. Washington, D.C. 20402. (11) Hall, R.L. and Oser, B.L. 1968. The safety of flavoring sub­ stances. Residue Reviews 24: 1. (12) Evaluating the Safety ol Food Chemicals. 1970. Appendix: Guide­ lines for estimating toxicologically insignificant levels of chemicals in food. National Academy of Sciences. Washington, D.C. --- The authors acknowledge the valuable technical assistance of Dr. Richard A. Ford, Assistant Prolessor ol Chemistry, Catholic University, Washington, D. C. in reviewing the chemical data presented in this report and that of Mona Oser in preparation of !he manuscript.