GRAS Notificationmedium
FDA Accepts GRAS Notice for Hemp Seed Oil and Protein: GN 000809
Hemp seed derivatives — not CBD — achieve GRAS status through accepted notification
Announced: July 22, 2024
FDA Docket: GN 000809
CBDOtherFoodDietary Supplement
Summary
The FDA accepted GRAS Notice GN 000809 for hemp seed oil and hemp seed protein in July 2024. The GRAS affirmation applies specifically to hemp seed derivatives — not to CBD or other phytocannabinoids — at specified use levels in food.
Key scope limitations:
- GRAS status covers hemp seed oil (as a fat/oil ingredient) and hemp seed protein (as a protein source)
- The notice explicitly excludes CBD, THC, or other phytocannabinoids from the GRAS determination
- Hemp seed protein is affirmed at up to 15% by weight in baked goods, smoothies, and nutrition bars
- Hemp seed oil is affirmed at up to 3% by weight in salad dressings, nutrition bars, and beverages
This acceptance does not resolve the broader CBD regulatory question but confirms that hemp seed derivatives remain a legally compliant ingredient in functional foods.
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What Operators Should Do Now
For hemp food manufacturers:
1. Review your formulations to confirm hemp ingredients are hemp seed oil or hemp seed protein — not extracts containing phytocannabinoids.
2. Document the GRAS basis in your food safety records by referencing GN 000809.
3. Stay within specified use levels: hemp seed protein ≤15% by weight; hemp seed oil ≤3% by weight in applicable food categories.
4. Do not conflate hemp seed GRAS with CBD legality in marketing — the two are legally distinct and confusing them creates enforcement risk.