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 In this section:

        Food

Food Ingredients & Packaging

                        
                Determining the Regulatory Status of a Food Ingredient
          Food Ingredient & Packaging Inventories


                Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients Information for Consumers
          Food Chemical Safety
          Food Ingredient & Packaging Terms
          Color Additives Information for Consumers
          Food Additives & Petitions
          Food Packaging & Other Substances that Come in Contact with Food Information for Consumers
          Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
          Packaging & Food Contact Substances (FCS)
          Irradiation of Food & Packaging
          Environmental Decisions
          Food from New Plant Varieties
          Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells Home
          Food
          Food Ingredients & PackagingFood 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.

Information for Consumers

**Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients** Information for Consumers

	Understanding How the FDA Regulates Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients
		Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
	**Color Additives** Information for Consumers
	Understanding How the FDA Regulates Color Additives
	**Food Packaging & Other Substances that Come in Contact with Food** Information for Consumers
	Understanding How the FDA Regulates Substances that Come into Contact with Food
	**Foods Made Using Innovative Technologies**
	Feed Your Mind: Learn about Genetically Engineered Foods (GMOs)
		Learn about Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells
	Ingredients & Packaging Terms
	Food Chemical SafetyInformation for Industry

CFSAN Online Submission Module (COSM) Packaging & Food Contact Substances
	Determining the Regulatory Status of a Food Ingredient
	Food Additives & Petitions
	Packaging & Food Contact Substances
	Color Additives in Foods
	Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
	Irradiation of Food & Packaging
	Environmental Decisions
	Food from New Plant Varieties
	Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells
	Food Chemical SafetyGuidance

Ingredients, Additives, GRAS, and Packaging Guidance
	Food Allergens Guidance
	Code of Federal Regulations Citations for Color Additives, Food Ingredients, and PackagingInventories

All Ingredients & Packaging Inventories
	Substances Added to Food (formerly EAFUS)
	GRAS Notice Inventory
	Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications
	Inventory of Food Contact Substances Listed in 21 CFRRelated Content

Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives & Colors (archived)

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      07/06/2023
                  
                   
Regulated Product(s)
		 Food & Beverages
			  			     			  						              
			
			
			
			
			
						  Food & Color AdditivesFood Ingredients & Packaging                
                          

                        Determining the Regulatory Status of a Food Ingredient
          Food Ingredient & Packaging Inventories


                        Food Additives and GRAS Ingredients Information for Consumers
          Food Chemical Safety
          Food Ingredient & Packaging Terms
          Color Additives Information for Consumers
          Food Additives & Petitions
          Food Packaging & Other Substances that Come in Contact with Food Information for Consumers
          Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)
          Packaging & Food Contact Substances (FCS)
          Irradiation of Food & Packaging
          Environmental Decisions
          Food from New Plant Varieties
          Human Food Made with Cultured Animal Cells
 
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