Tag: Fda food additives

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), foodborne illnesses account for 76 million illnesses, 325,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths each year in the United States. This is precisely why preservatives are used in our food supply, but is it okay to eat food with preservatives and what are the health implications?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) may be safely used in certain foods under specific conditions. This approved use often surprises people who are more familiar with SLS as a foaming agent in household cleaners, personal care products, and cosmetics. In food, SLS serves as an emulsifier and whipping aid, but its application is strictly regulated and limited to ensure safety.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many common food additives, including stabilizers like guar gum and xanthan gum, are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for consumption within specified limits. This means that for the vast majority of consumers, eating stabilizer as part of processed foods is not a health risk when used appropriately.

Before 1957, artificial sweeteners were generally available only in liquid or tablet form. It was in this year that the brand Sweet'n Low introduced the first widely marketed powdered sugar substitute, which contained cyclamate, packaged in individual servings. This innovation marked a turning point in the diet food industry, bringing a convenient, calorie-free sweetener to the mass market for the first time.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), food additives are substances not normally consumed as a food by themselves, but are intentionally added for a technical purpose in the manufacture, processing, preparation, or storage of food. These substances play a crucial role in modern food production, from preserving packaged meals to enhancing the flavor of snacks.

According to reports, over 10,000 chemicals and additives are allowed in the United States food supply, but the number of substances formally approved by the FDA is a much smaller subset. This complexity makes understanding how many food additives are currently approved in the U.S. by the FDA a nuanced task, requiring an understanding of the formal approval process and the "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) exemption.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in food, including cereal, at approved levels. However, the safety of BHT in cereal has been a subject of ongoing debate for years, raising concerns among consumers and leading to reformulation efforts by some major food manufacturers. This article explores the science behind BHT, its regulatory history, potential health implications, and readily available alternatives.

According to the FDA's own GRAS notices, the agency has historically had "no questions" regarding manufacturers' self-affirmed safety conclusions for erythritol. However, the FDA's stance on erythritol has come under scrutiny following recent studies linking high consumption of the popular sweetener to potential cardiovascular risks. This article explores the FDA's official position, the scientific debates, and the implications for consumers.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the FDA banned the food dye Red 3 from being used in foods, beverages, and oral drugs in January 2025, over 30 years after it was first linked to cancer in lab rats. This regulatory change has prompted many to question: is Gatorade made with Red Dye 3?

In January 2025, the FDA officially banned Red Dye No. 3 from being added to food products in the U.S. due to potential cancer risks. This has prompted many people to wonder, *is red dye number 3 in hot cheetos?* While the popular snack does not contain Red Dye No. 3, it uses a different artificial color, Red Dye No. 40.