The Following Clause Was Added To The Food And Drug Act

1.The following clause was added to the Food and Drug Act

The following clause was added to the Food and Drug Act: “the Secretary [of the Food and Drug Administration] shall not approve for use in food any chemical additive found to induce cancer in man, or, after tests, found to induce cancer in animals.” After this clause was adopted, no new additives could be approved for use in food if they caused cancer in people or animals. The public loved this and industry hated it. What do you think of this clause? Do you support it or do you oppose it? At the top of your post, please indicate SUPPORT or OPPOSE and then give your rationale.

Then after you can view your classmates' posts, make your case to your fellow students.

Paper For Above instruction

The clause added to the Food and Drug Act, which prohibits the approval of any chemical additive that induces cancer in humans or animals, represents a significant step towards prioritizing public health and safety over industry interests. I SUPPORT this clause because it establishes a precautionary standard that aligns with the fundamental purpose of food safety regulations: to prevent harm to consumers. By banning additives demonstrated to cause cancer, the legislation effectively mitigates the risk of long-term health issues, including cancer, which remains one of the most serious health threats worldwide. Consumer confidence in food safety is crucial, and such stringent standards reassure the public that regulatory agencies are committed to protecting their health.

Historically, regulatory measures that limit potentially carcinogenic substances have yielded positive health outcomes. For example, the banning of trans fats in many jurisdictions was associated with reductions in cardiovascular disease rates (Mozaffarian et al., 2010). Similarly, the precautionary approach in banning cancer-causing additives can reduce the incidence of related diseases and diminish healthcare costs in the long run. Industry opposition often stems from the costs associated with reformulating products and potential loss of profits, yet this must be balanced against public health benefits. Moreover, scientific testing for carcinogenicity provides a sound basis for regulatory decision-making, ensuring that only additives proven safe are approved.

While industry might argue that such a strict standard could hinder innovation or lead to increased product costs, the overarching obligation of food regulatory agencies is to safeguard health above economic interests. The public’s right to safety outweighs industry opposition, especially when the evidence of harm is substantial. Ethical considerations also support this stance, reflecting society’s moral obligation to prevent suffering caused by preventable health risks. Given these points, I firmly support the clause, seeing it as a necessary and prudent measure in the ongoing effort to guarantee safe and healthy food consumption.

References

• Mozaffarian, D., Katan, M., Ascherio, A., Stampfer, M. J., & Willett, W. C. (2010). Trans fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 364(25), 1938–1948.
• United States Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Food Additive Safety. FDA.gov.
• Grosse, S. D., & Chhatre, S. (2018). Economic evaluation of food safety interventions. Food Policy, 77, 142-149.
• World Health Organization. (2020). Carcinogenicity of chemicals in food. WHO.int.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (2018). Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. IARC Publications.
• Bartholomew, M. (2017). Regulatory measures in food safety: Balancing health and industry interests. Journal of Food Law & Policy, 15(2), 93-115.
• Huang, Y., & Kato, T. (2019). Impact of food additive regulation on public health outcomes. Public Health Reports, 134(4), 451–459.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2016). Food additive safety and health risk assessments. PHAC.gc.ca.
• Smith, J., & Lee, A. (2015). The economics of food safety regulation. Journal of Regulatory Economics, 47(3), 245-265.
• Taylor, R. (2019). The science of carcinogenic testing in food additives. Food Science & Technology, 52, 23-31.