FDA SCOGS database

FDA's Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) was a 1972-1980 expert committee that reviewed approximately 372 GRAS food substances to determine whether they should remain GRAS under current safety standards. The SCOGS committee assigned each substance to one of three classifications: Class 1 (no evidence of hazard, GRAS affirmed), Class 2 (equivocal evidence, further studies needed), or Class 3 (evidence of hazard to certain populations, GRAS revoked or restricted). For pet food, the most impactful SCOGS evaluations were: BHA (Class 1, no hazard at typical use levels but carcinogenicity concern at >2% of diet); BHT (Class 2, equivocal evidence; FDA recommended reduced maximum levels in 1979 from 0.02% to 0.01% of fat content); ethoxyquin (Class 1, no hazard at use levels, but EU and Japan have since restricted ethoxyquin citing hepatotoxicity in dogs). SCOGS opinions are advisory only — FDA uses them as guidance for modern GRAS reviews, not as legal standards.