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 Safety

Information for Industry

• Centralized 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 Safety

Guidance

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

Inventories

• 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 CFR

Related Content

• Overview of Food Ingredients, Additives & Colors (archived)