GRAS means generally recognized as safe. It is the designation given to substances that are considered safe for direct or indirect additives to foods. For a substance to be considered GRAS it had to meet certain criteria. There are two basic ways for a substance to be designated as GRAS. The criteria for this process is given in detail in the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, Volume 3, Parts 170.30. The Federal code is searchable from: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.html