Focus on...food safety
1979
Changes in food safety laws have been recommended by a committee convened under the terms of the Saccharin Study and Labeling Act of 1977 (the law that put a moratorium on restrictions proposed for saccharin by FDA). A single standard for food safety which defines risks as low, moderate, and high would replace the current system which distinguishes among deliberate additives, avoidable contaminants, and other categories. The recommendation that both risks and benefits be considered in regulatory action is certain to be controversial, according to FDA Commissioner Donald Kennedy. The Commissioner also notes that: 1) saccharin is an animal carcinogen and potentially a human carcinogen; 2) under present law, FDA must ban saccharin as a food additive; 3) no final action on saccharin can be taken in less than 12-15 months after the moratorium ends; 4) FDA proposes to eliminate bulk use of saccharin, but would permit its use as a tabletop sweetener under certain conditions; and 5) FDA plans no precipitous action.
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