Why FDA Allows So Many Chemicals in America’s Food Supply
The FDA’s Role in Regulating the Food Supply
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates food and health-related products to ensure they’re safe for public health. Today, it’s estimated to oversee 80% of the U.S. food supply. This also places ingredient safety regulations under the FDA’s authority. According to a 1958 law, companies looking to introduce a new food additive into the food supply are supposed to file a petition with the FDA, triggering a lengthy process of scientific investigation and public comment.
A Legal Loophole in the System
However, experts say a legal loophole has allowed companies to bypass this process entirely. “We know from prior research that over the span of decades, thousands of ingredients are added to the food supply without the FDA even knowing about it,” according to Jennifer Pomeranz, an associate professor of public health and policy and management at New York University. “It’s impossible to quantify because we don’t actually know which ingredients are added.”
Self-Declared Safety
“What we have seen over time is that companies are creating new ingredients, having their own scientists or hiring a small group of outside scientists to make their own determination that an ingredient is safe,” said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs at the Environmental Working Group. “Once they self-declare that their ingredient is safe, they don’t have to go through that pre-market process.”
The Consequences of the Loophole
More than 750 new food additives have been introduced into the food supply through this loophole by the food and chemical industry between 2000 and 2021, according to research by EWG.
Industry Response
However, supporters of the food additive industry argue that all ingredients are tested with the same rigor as additives that go through the pre-market approval process. “Both processes require the exact same requirements,” argued Carla Saunders, executive director at the International Food Additives Council. “There’s a plethora of scientific evidence needed to ensure that those ingredients are safe, reliable, and effective.”
Conclusion
The issue of FDA oversight of the food supply is a complex one, with both sides presenting valid arguments. While the FDA’s pre-market approval process is designed to ensure the safety of food additives, the loophole allowing companies to self-declare safety has raised concerns about the potential risks to public health.
Frequently Asked Questions
* What is the FDA’s role in regulating the food supply?
The FDA regulates food and health-related products to ensure they’re safe for public health.
* How do companies introduce new food additives into the food supply?
Companies can introduce new food additives into the food supply through the pre-market approval process or by self-declaring safety.
* How many new food additives have been introduced into the food supply through the loophole?
More than 750 new food additives have been introduced into the food supply through this loophole by the food and chemical industry between 2000 and 2021.
* Do all ingredients undergo the same testing process?
Supporters of the food additive industry argue that all ingredients are tested with the same rigor as additives that go through the pre-market approval process, while critics argue that the loophole allows companies to bypass rigorous testing.
