12.18.12
In response to a 2008 citizens petition from Joanne K. Tobacman, M.D., the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Department of Health and Human Services has concluded that the alleged claims made by Dr. Tobacman do not adequately support the revocation of 21 CFR 172.620, permitting the use of carrageenan for direct addition to food. Although the response was issued in June 2012, FDA’s letter was only made readily available to the public on November 29, 2012. In the response document, the FDA references several studies that contradict allegations from Dr. Tobacman that carrageenan is unsafe in food, and further concludes that the data in the studies referenced by Dr. Tobacman are not relevant “to exposure from human consumption of food containing the direct food additives in question.”
Commenting on the safety confirmation, Charles Bowman, vice president-marketing at CP Kelco, a world-leading carrageenan and food ingredient producer, stated,“As a leader in the food ingredient industry, we strive to stay at the forefront of health, safety and regulatory activities. We applaud the response of the FDA, and support their conclusions. Our goal is to ensure our customers and consumers have the most reliable information available to make educated and safe purchase choices.”
Commenting on the safety confirmation, Charles Bowman, vice president-marketing at CP Kelco, a world-leading carrageenan and food ingredient producer, stated,“As a leader in the food ingredient industry, we strive to stay at the forefront of health, safety and regulatory activities. We applaud the response of the FDA, and support their conclusions. Our goal is to ensure our customers and consumers have the most reliable information available to make educated and safe purchase choices.”