Legal Definitions - food and drug law

Food and Drug Law refers to the regulations and laws that govern the production, distribution, and sale of food, drugs, and other consumer products in the United States. The government has been regulating food production since the mid-1800s, but major steps were taken in 1906 with the enactment of the Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is one of the oldest consumer protection agencies in the country. It regulates products that account for over one fourth of all consumer spending, including food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. The FDA protects the public from unsafe products and monitors the promotional activities of manufacturers. It also regulates the labeling of all packaged foods and the safety of the nation's blood supply.

Examples of related laws passed in the United States include:

• The Food Additives Amendment of 1957, which requires the evaluation of food additives to establish safety.
• The Delaney Clause of 1958, which forbids the use of substances found in foods causing cancer in laboratory animals.
• The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938, which regulates cosmetics and therapeutic devices.
• The Kefauver–Harris Drug Amendments of 1962, which require drug manufacturers to show that their drugs are safe.
• The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990, which requires all packaged foods to carry labels with nutrition information.

These laws illustrate the government's commitment to protecting consumers from harmful products and ensuring that they have access to accurate information about the products they consume. By regulating the production, distribution, and sale of food and drugs, the government can help prevent illness and promote public health.