Changes to GRAS policy, a label reading show and tell and a quick homemade mayo recipe

Today I have a mash up of information for you.

Generally Regarded as Safe

First lets talk about GRAS - otherwise knows as ‘Generally Regarded as Safe’. This is the designation given by the FDA that a chemical or additive added to food is considered safe.

“ substance that is intentionally added to food is a food additive, that is subject to premarket review and approval by FDA, unless the substance is generally recognized, among qualified experts, as having been adequately shown to be safe under the conditions of its intended use, or unless the use of the substance is otherwise excepted from the definition of a food additive.” - Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) | FDA

So what exactly does this mean? Well it means that a food company can have one of their qualified experts deem an ingredient safe. Seems legit, right? The FDA actually does not get fully involved unless there are concerns and complaints submitted. This is a huge loophole and never challenged until now.

Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the new head of HHS has stated that this loop hole will be looked at being closed.

IF this legislation goes through, hopefully this will dramatically decrease the chemicals and additives in food that cause many issues in our bodies or at least provide proper documentation that an additive has been tested substantially.

Label Reading Show and Tell

Last week, I went live again with

Tim Ebl 🇨🇦

where we each had some food items and deconstructed and deciphered labels from some common everyday foods. You may find some things very eye opening on how food companies label and pull you into purchasing these items based on buzz words and marketing. Take some time to watch the video above. Let us know if there is a product you want us to deconstruct for our next live show and tell.

Quick and Easy Homemade Mayo Recipe

Spoiler alert: if you have not watched the Label reading show and tell yet, Tim discusses a common household mayonnaise product and how marketing makes us think it is a healthier alternative, when actually it is not. But you can make a healthier alternative at home with 4 ingredients. Eggs, oil or fat, vinegar, lemon juice…

This recipe uses hard boiled eggs but you could also just use raw egg yolks but some people don’t like to use a raw product.

Ingredients:

• 3 hard boiled eggs

• 2 tbsp olive oil (you can also use melted butter, ghee, or tallow or bacon fat)

• 2 tbsp white vinegar

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• sea salt to taste.

Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. To get to the desired consistency, you may need to add more lemon juice, vinegar or even a few tbsp of water. Feel free to experiment by adding some hot sauce for a little heat or for a bit more tang, some Dijon mustard. Now this can taste a little egg-y, if you do not like that taste, then I would suggest adding the Dijon mustard. This will last in your fridge for 2 weeks.

Don’t miss out and join me for my next live video in the app

Danni