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Food Ingredients & Packaging

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The FDA regulates the safety of ingredients added directly to food and substances that come into contact with food, such as those added to packaging materials, cookware or containers that store food.

Food manufacturers are responsible for marketing safe foods. Ingredients added directly to food and  substances that come into contact with food are generally held to the same safety standard—there must be a reasonable certainty of no harm under the conditions of its intended use. The FDA has several programs in place to assist the food industry in meeting their responsibilities. The FDA maintains a list of almost 4,000 substances in its public database Substances Added to Food, which also includes ingredients no longer authorized for use in food.

In addition, food manufacturers are responsible for ensuring that food made by using new technologies meets the same safety requirements as all other food. The FDA provides pre-market consultation for manufacturers who use innovative food technologies.

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