The FDA has designated common emulsifiers like polysorbate 80 and  carboxymethylcellulose or cellulose gum (CMC) “generally regarded as safe” or GRAS. This designation is coveted because it indicates that the FDA considers GRAS substances non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. However, the problem is that emulsifiers have not consistently been tested for side effects.

Based on the recent work of researchers at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University in Atlanta, we now know some emulsifiers are not benign additions to our food chain.