Argumentative Essay On Food Additives

Today, in almost any grocery store you walk into, you can find a variety of food additives on every shelf in almost every product. Their use ranges from preservation to increasing nutrition to altering taste. The FDA defines food additive as “intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly, either in their becoming a component of food or otherwise affecting the characteristics of food.” However, the increase in food additives has created a controversial topic that has had numerous effects on society. In the past 100 years food additives have become controversial topic in society. Food additives have triggered the development of laws, various consumer reactions, and affected companies decisions throughout history.

The United States has seen a long battle with the regulation of food additives beginning in the

The study had to be terminated after the men consuming the chemicals became sick. But, the study succeeded in sparking consumer outcry around the nation (The Centennial Edition 2006). In 1906, the Pure Food and Drug Act was created to prohibit any food substitution that resulted in health threats, conceal damage, or create a filthy or decomposed substance. Still, food additives were not subject to this until after they were put on the market. After a tragedy occurred in which more than 100 people died after ingesting a poisonous yet legal drug, Elixir Sulfanilamide, in the early 1930s, the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act was enacted (Ballentine 1981). Now the FDA held the power to regulate food and it’s ingredients before it hit the market. Later in 1958, a new law came to be known as the Food Additives Amendment. With this in place companies were forced to establish the safety of new food additives to the FDA’s liking. Alongside the law came the Delaney Clause which was created stating, “...no additive