Trans fat crackdown: Banning PHOs will cause massive headaches for chewing gum makers, claims association
FDA proposals to revoke the GRAS status of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in order to crack down on trans fats will cause massive headaches for gum manufacturers, according to the International Chewing Gum Association.
In comments filed in the docket responding to the proposed move, Richard F. Mann, Counsel to the association, says PHOs are routinely added to gum as softeners or texturizers, but as the gum is not ingested, only microscopic amounts of fat leech out as it is chewed.
He warns: “FDA’s proposed determination, if implemented, will cause a significant disruption in the chewing gum industry… At this stage, extensive research would be required to determine what alternatives exist to serve the function of partially hydrogenated oils in chewing gum, and whether there are sufficient supplies of such alternatives available at reasonable prices.”
Click HERE to read all the comments about the proposed PHO ban in the docket.
