Grocery Manufacturers Association; Denial of Food Additive Petition

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is denying a food additive petition (FAP 5A4811), submitted by the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), requesting that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHOs) in certain food applications. We are denying the petition because we have determined that the petitioner did not provide sufficient information for us to conclude that the requested uses of PHOs are safe. To allow the food industry sufficient time to identify suitable replacement substances for the petitioned uses of PHOs, elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register we have extended the compliance date for certain uses of PHOs, including the conditions of use covered by the FAP.