Federal court concluded FDA could permit manufacturers to self-certify that chemical additives used in food they manufactured are safe, but acknowledged conflict-of-interest concerns about this practice and noted that the remedy to fix this situation lies with Congress.
Americans deserve food free from synthetic additives known to be carcinogens. The decision today by the Food and Drug Administration to remove seven such carcinogenic synthetic flavorings, variously used in drinks, candy, ice cream, and other foods, from its list of approved food additives is an important victory for consumer confidence.
Most people would be shocked to learn that there is no government oversight of an estimated 1,000 substances added to food in the United States—and little oversight of thousands more. In fact, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted companies to secretly determine the safety of new food ingredients—and to add them to packaged and restaurant foods without ever telling FDA what they are or their scientific basis for believing a substance is safe. Find out how CSPI — with allies—is challenging that absurd and risky situation.
CSPI urges FDA to determine a safe level of added sugars for beverages as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce American's dangerously high sugar consumption.
