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Critically SpeakingAuthor: Therese Markow
On each episode of Critically Speaking, your host, Dr. Therese Markow, interviews foremost experts in a range of fields. We discuss, in everyday language that we all can understand, fundamental issues that impact our health, our society, and our planet. Join our weekly journey where we separate fact from fantasy for topics both current and controversial. Language: en Genres: Science, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.: Lack of FDA Food Safety Oversight
Episode 256
Tuesday, 15 September, 2026
In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Daniel Aaron discuss the inadequate oversight of food additives by the FDA, particularly the agency's GRAS or "Generally Recognized as Safe" process, which allows unsafe additives to reach the market without proper scrutiny. Dr. Aaron highlights industry conflicts of interest, the lack of reporting requirements, the need for stricter regulation to protect public health, and discusses what is needed for the FDA to be better able to make impactful changes. Key Takeaways: The majority of food additives in the US are not vetted by the FDA. Since 1958, food additives have been presumed safe until proven otherwise. The Clean Eating movement in the US is indicative of the skepticism of the American food supply. While the FDA used to maintain a list of GRAS substances, today, reporting to the FDA is not required. Europe uses a more precautionary approach to food additives. The EFSA must approve all chemical substances prior to their use in foods. Food additives are known to cause synergistic harm. However, the FDA poorly regulates single additives, so it is not surprising that its consideration of interacting chemicals is insufficient. "The FDA is the most accountable to corporate power. The largest impediment, in my view, to food regulation is funding. FDA's Food Center has been underfunded for decades. Further funding from Congress is needed, but our legislators often are supported by industry that doesn't necessarily want a more robust review of food additives." — Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D. Episode References: Bystanders to a Public Health Crisis: The Failures of the U.S. Multi-Agency Regulatory Approach to Food Safety in the Face of Persistent Organic Pollutants by Katya S. Cronin: https://scholarship.law.gwu.edu/faculty_publications/1725/ EFSA: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en FDA Food Center: https://www.fda.gov/food Connect with Daniel Aaron, M.D., J.D.: Professional Bio: https://faculty.utah.edu/u6052921-DANIEL_G_AARON/hm/index.hml Email: Daniel.Aaron@law.utah.edu Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
