The North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) submitted formal comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opposing a recent petition that requests the agency revoke the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of refined carbohydrates used in industrial food processing.
NAMA, representing millers of wheat, corn, oats and rye, emphasized that the petition’s call to remove refined carbohydrates from commerce lacks scientific consensus and contradicts the current regulatory framework under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The association highlighted that refined flours, sugars, and starches used in commercial processing are chemically identical to those used in home cooking and are regulated uniformly.
“There is no fundamental difference between refined carbohydrates used in industrial processing and those used at home,” NAMA stated. The petition’s distinction is arbitrary and unsupported by scientific evidence.
NAMA also noted that current research does not establish refined carbohydrates as unsafe under existing conditions of use. Instead, refined grains contribute to nutrient intake and can be part of a healthy diet. The association called for FDA to maintain its science-based, risk-based regulatory approach and to engage in transparent rulemaking if changes are warranted.
The group warned that granting the petition would disrupt a significant portion of the food supply and undermine decades of regulatory precedent, urging FDA to consider the broader legal and policy implications before taking action.
