Which government body's role is crucial in regulating food additives?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a crucial role in regulating food additives in the United States. This agency is responsible for ensuring that food products, including any additives, meet safety standards before they can be marketed. The FDA evaluates the safety of food additives based on scientific evidence and research, overseeing the approval process for new substances intended for use in food. This includes additives used to enhance flavor, preserve food, or improve appearance.

The FDA also monitors existing food additives and can revoke approvals if new safety data emerges that questions their safety under specific usage conditions. This regulatory authority is vital because food additives must be proven safe for consumption before they can be utilized in food production and sales.

In contrast, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) primarily focuses on environmental protection and regulating chemicals that might affect public health and the ecosystem, but not the safety of food additives specifically. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees agricultural products and the processing of meat, poultry, and certain egg products, but it does not regulate food additives as comprehensively as the FDA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) focuses on disease prevention and public health rather than direct regulation of food products and their ingredients. Hence, the main authority for food additives is