Pew Food Additives Project

''FDA to Consider Revamping Food Additive Rules''

"Amid growing public concern over the safety of additives in products ranging from caffeinated energy drinks to industrial chemicals in food containers and water bottles, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is under pressure to reexamine its rules, and there are signs it may do so."

''Brominated Vegetable Oil in Gatorade?''

From oil in Gatorade to the amount of caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks and the so-called "pink slime" found in beef, previously unnoticed ingredients are coming under scrutiny as health-conscious consumers demand more information about what they eat and drink, and sometimes go public via social networking and the Internet.

''Drink Ingredient Gets a Look''

Sarah Kavanagh and her little brother were looking forward to the bottles of Gatorade they had put in the refrigerator after playing outdoors one hot, humid afternoon last month in Hattiesburg, Miss. But before she took a sip, Sarah, a dedicated vegetarian, did what she often does and checked the label to make sure no animal products were in the drink. One ingredient, brominated vegetable oil, caught her eye.

Toxicology: The learning curve

Researchers say that some chemicals have unexpected and potent effects at very low doses — but regulators aren't convinced.

''Who Determines Safety of New Food Ingredients?''

"Grocery shoppers examining colorful packages bearing long lists of hard-to-pronounce ingredients might take comfort in the belief that those substances were deemed safe by the government. But that's not the case. Over the past 15 years, the vast majority of new ingredients added to U.S. food never received a safety determination from the government."

''Self-Affirmed GRAS Under Fire Again As Pew Highlights 'Loophole That Appears to Have Swallowed the Law''

"There are serious weaknesses in a system that allows firms to self-affirm the safety of food ingredients without the approval or knowledge of regulators, according to researchers conducting a probe into the nation’s food additives law."

What Did Pew Health Group Find in its Review of the U.S. Food Additive Regulatory Program?

In the November 1, 2011, edition of the peer-reviewed journal Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (CRFS), Pew Health Group published a rigorous analysis of the U.S. food additive regulatory program. Key among the findings is that more than 10,000 chemicals were allowed in human food as of January 2011.

Review of the Scientific Basis for Safety Decisions on Hazards of Substances Added to Food

In April 2011 Pew Health Group convened a workshop bringing together more than 80 experts from government, industry, academia and public interest organizations to examine the principles underlying the development and use of scientific evidence to identify and characterize chemical hazards. Based on the workshop discussions, Pew made several important observations.

Expert Profile: Maricel Maffini

Maricel Maffini, Senior Officer, Food Additives Project

Expert Profile: Tom Neltner

Tom Neltner, Project Director, Food Additives Project

Expert Profile: Erik Olson

Erik Olson, Director, Food Programs

Tom Neltner

Tom Neltner is the project director for the Food Additives Project, which examines current U.S. federal regulations regarding chemicals added to our food.

Erik Olson

Erik Olson is director of food programs, overseeing work aimed at food safety, the quality of school food, and the food additives policy.

Maricel Maffini

Maricel V. Maffini is a senior officer for the Food Additives Project, which studies the possible risks posed by chemicals included in food production.

Navigating the U.S. Food Additive Regulatory Program

The Food Additives Amendment of 1958 is the foundation for the U.S. food additive regulatory program, which oversees most substances added to food. This article is a comprehensive review of the program, and includes original analysis of pre- and postmarket safety standards for various categories and subcategories of substances and their uses.

Enhancing FDA's Evaluation of Science to Ensure Chemicals Added to Human Food are Safe (Proceedings)

The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Institute of Food Technologists, and the journal Nature brought together over 80 experts in science and food policy to examine the principles underlying the development and use of scientific evidence needed to evaluate possible hazards posed by chemicals added to food.

''Report: Industry decides food ingredient safety''

Thousands of ingredients that go into food have been classified as safe by private industry alone, without any government oversight, according to a new report published Wednesday...The peer-reviewed report published in the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety journal draws on research funded by the Pew Health Group, the health and consumer safety arm of the nonprofit Pew Charitable Trusts.

Food Chemical Regulations Rely Heavily on Industry Self-Policing and Lack Transparency

Safety decisions concerning one-third of the more than 10,000 substances that may be added to human food were made by food manufacturers and a trade association without review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to an analysis spearheaded by the Pew Health Group.

Enhancing FDA’s Evaluation of Science to Ensure Chemicals Added to Human Food Are Safe (Pre-Workshop Materials)

The workshop, co sponsored by Nature journal, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), and the Pew Heath Group, brought together more than 80 scientists and and policymakers to develop a shared understanding of the current system FDA uses to assess the hazards of chemicals added to human food and explore opportunities to strengthen that system.