Tag: Food vs drug

According to the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), infant formula is legally defined as a food, not a drug. This distinction is crucial for understanding its purpose, regulation, and appropriate use, and it helps dispel common misconceptions about whether baby formula is considered a drug.

The US dietary supplement market exceeded $53 billion in 2023, yet a core challenge for consumers and manufacturers remains: understanding the complex regulatory framework. So, how are nutraceuticals regulated in the US, and what key laws govern their safety and marketing?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sugar is categorized as a food additive, not a drug. Despite this official classification, its impact on the brain's reward system often leads to public debate and comparisons to addictive substances like cocaine.

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), caffeine is a legal drug that is approved to be added to certain food products, yet it lacks nutritional value. This fact immediately raises the question: is caffeine considered a food, or is it something else entirely?

According to Hippocrates, 'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.'. This ancient wisdom highlights a foundational truth that continues to inform modern discussions about the difference between food medicine and drug medicine. While one nourishes, the other often targets specific symptoms, with each playing a distinct role in health and wellness.

According to the FDA, dietary supplements are legally classified under the general umbrella of "foods," not drugs, a distinction established by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). This unique regulatory position has significant implications for how supplements are manufactured, marketed, and evaluated for safety, as the burden of proof for safety often falls differently compared to pharmaceuticals.