GRAS and CBD: Balanced Health Botanicals (CBDistillery) received the self-affirmed GRAS status

The FDA developed this designation known as GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe, for what started as 700 food substances in 1958. That list as grown to over 1,000 substances and/or chemicals used as additives in food products. Receiving GRAS means those specific ingredients have been recognized as safe by experts to be used in the way the product is marketed.

Receiving this designation also exempts the additive from having to meet tolerance requirements which other food additives must meet. There are two ways to receive a GRAS designation, either self-affirmed or FDA notification. Both are valid and, if we’re honest, sought after by food and supplement manufacturers.

Balanced Health Botanicals received the self-affirmed GRAS status for both their hemp-derived full-spectrum cannabidiol extract and CBD isolate.

Having this distinction puts companies like CBDistillery and BHB at an advantage to their competitors and gives consumers added confidence that their products are safe and will actually do what they say they will do.

What’s the Big Deal?

Consumers can be assured these experts that set the standards and approval for GRAS status are legitimate, unbiased, toxicological experts in their field. In the case of BHB they have checked that the cannabidiol used in their products is safe as an ingredient.

In the growing world of CBD products, which has little regulation at this point, there are companies able to market themselves as safe and effective when that may not be the case. The quality and efficacy of some less-reputable manufacturers is low and these companies can muddy the waters for the novice CBD consumer entertaining the idea of using a product.

Receiving this status gives consumers a choice that has been proven to be safe from a toxicological standpoint.

The GRAS status states it is designated for food additives which can be misleading, but it applies to products like CBD as well that are intended to be consumed. BHB uses full-spectrum and isolate versions of the hemp-derived cannabidiol in their tinctures, edibles, vapes, capsules, and even pet products.

BHB’s Status

CEO, Chase Terwilliger, placed many goals for his company that would give their customers, present and future, complete trust in their product’s quality and safety. BHB is self-proclaimed leaders of the CBD movement and over a year have made big moves to keep prove that status is accurate.

To meet self-affirmed GRAS status, BHB voluntarily put themselves in a vulnerable position that included a panel of academic toxicological experts and third party testing and review. Through this process they were able to establish protocols and procedures that were in line with the FDA’s GRAS status and were awarded the distinction within a year.

In an interview with Chain Drug Review, CEO Terwilliger states his desire to be a leader in this area among other CBD companies. Because BHB cares about not only the safety of their products, but of all CBD products on the market in order to both protect the industry and its consumers, they desire for all companies with the cannabidiol arena to set GRAS status as a goal for their products.

Having Balanced Health Botanicals lead out in this way is a significant step in the industry. The company, though humble, has a lot to brag about in their success. They are among the largest brands in the hemp-derived CBD market owning not just CBDistillery, but CBDistilleryRx, and BOTA.

GRAS status seems to be just the beginning for this leader in the cannabidiol industry in ensuring their products are safe and effective for years to come.