Federal Food, Drug, And Cosmetic Act Article Index for
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Federal Food, Drug, And Cosmetic Act





FOOD COLORING

The FD&C is perhaps best known by the consumer because of its use in the naming of Food Coloring Additives , such as "FD&C Yellow No. 6." The Act made the certification of food color additives mandatory.

The FD&C lists nine certified color additives for use in the United States. Color additives derived from natural sources, such as vegetables, minerals or animals, and man-made counterparts of natural derivatives, are exempt from certification. Both artificial and natural color additives are subject to rigorous standards of safety prior to their approval for use in foods.


Certifiable colors: (name/common name)



FOOD ADDITIVES

The FFDCA act requires producers of food additives to demonstrate to a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from the intended use of an additive. If FDA finds an additive to be safe the agency issues a regulation specifying the conditions under which the additive may be safely used.

Definition of Food Additive

The definition of "food additive" is "any substance, the intended use of which
results directly or
indirectly, in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the
characteristics of food". However, excluded from the
definition of "food additive" are substances that are generally
recognized, among experts qualified by scientific training and
experience to evaluate their safety, as having
been adequately shown through scientific procedures (or, in the case of
a substance used in food prior to January 1, 1958, through either
scientific procedures or through experience based on common use in
food) to be safe under the conditions of their intended use. This is the so called generally '''r'''ecognized '''a'''s '''s'''afe (GRAS) exemption. {Link without Title}


GM foods are regarded as containing food additives

These regulations apply to foods produced by genetic enineering and if the protein added to the food by the genetic engineering process is not "Generally Recognised as Safe" then GM food is regarded as containing a "food additive" and is subject to premarket approval by the FDA . ??All GM foods sold in the USA have been subject to this FDA premarket approval process ??

COSMETICS

This Act defines Cosmetics as products for "cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance." In this sense the FDA can classify cosmetics without actually regulating them. This allows a manufacturer the ability to use ingredients or raw materials and market the final product without government approval. Questions are being raised about the potentially dangerous side effects of chemicals in everyday household products.


RELATED LEGISLATION

The Wheeler-Lea Act , also passed in 1938, granted the Federal Trade Commission the authority to oversee Advertising of all products regulated by FDA, other than prescription drugs.


SEE ALSO



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