United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-08-02 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:HEHS-94-141 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-141 P0b002ee18037f9bf f:he94141 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-141 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-141 HEHS-94-141 Food additives Food industry Safety regulation Federal regulations Product safety Pesticides Testing Safety standards Investigations by federal agencies Philippines Letter Report HEHS Questions have arisen as to whether a less refined, less expensive carrageenan--a food additive derived from red seaweed--manufactured in the Philippines should be imported and sold in the United States. U.S. carrageenan manufacturers estimate that their revenue losses to the Philippines could exceed $170 million over four years. On the basis of its food additive regulations for traditionally refined carrageenan, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified Philippine natural grade carrageenan as carrageenan, which is an approved food additive. As a result, Philippine manufacturers were not required to submit a food additive petition to FDA. A new food additive petition would have required FDA to approve conditions under which the Philippine product could be used in foods. In determining that the Philippine carrageenan complied with its food additive regulations, FDA concluded that there were no major qualitative differences between Philippine natural grade carrageenan and traditionally refined carrageenan, including the safety of processing. However, allegations of illegal pesticide use have prompted FDA to test Philippine natural grade carrageenan for unapproved pesticide residues, specifically ethylene oxide. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-141/html/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-141.htm GAO/HEHS-94-141 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-141 Letter Report GAO/HEHS-94-141; Food and Drug Administration: Carrageenan Food Additive from the Philippines Conforms to Regulations; Food additives Food industry Safety regulation Federal regulations Product safety Pesticides Testing Safety standards Investigations by federal agencies Philippines Title 21 Part 172.620 21 CFR Part 172.620