Food industry often self-polices chemicals

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- One-third of the more than 10,000 substances that may be added to human food were made by food manufacturers and a trade association, U.S. researchers say.

An analysis spearheaded by the Pew Health Group, published in the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, found the Food and Drug Administration developed an expedited process in the mid-1990's that essentially eliminated the opportunity for public involvement in decision making prior to FDA's safety determination, doubling the rate of industry requests for FDA review.

"Congress established our food additive regulatory program more than 50 years ago, and it does not stand up well to scrutiny based on today's standards of science and public transparency," Tom Neltner, food additives project director in the Pew Health Group, said in a statement.

"Subjecting safety decisions to comment from competitors, academic scientists, public interest groups and the general public can result in stronger protections for consumers. In an age of growing demand for government transparency, there is virtually no meaningful opportunity for participation in decisions about large classes of substances added to the food supply."