11
Chapter 1 Food Science: An Old but New Subject
Milestones in Government Food Regulation
Date Law Actions
1906 • Pure Food and Drug Act
• Meat Inspection Act
• Prohibits interstate commerce of misbranded and
adulterated food, drinks, and drugs.
• Requires inspection of all meat sold across state
lines.
1907 First Certifi ed Color Regulations Identifi es seven colors as acceptable for use in
processed foods.
1913 Gould Amendment Requires accurate labeling of food packages with
weight, measure, or numerical count.
1930 McNary-Mapes Amendment Authorizes FDA standards of quality and fi ll-of-
container for canned food, excluding meat and
milk products.
1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Expands the 1906 law to cover cosmetics and gives
FDA authority to establish regulations and guidelines
for the food industry.
1939 First Food Standards of Identity Establish defi nitions and standards of composition for
canned tomatoes, tomato puree, and tomato paste.
1949 FDA publishes guidance to industry, referred to as
the “black book.”
1958 • Food Additives Amendment
• Delaney Clause
• Requires the safety of a new additive to be
established before requesting an approval for its
use. The fi rst GRAS list was published, identifying
nearly 200 food additives deemed “generally
recognized as safe.”
• Prohibits the use of any additive in food that is
found to cause cancer.
1960 Color Additives Amendment Requires the safety of any new color additive for
food, drugs, or cosmetics to be established before
requesting an approval for its use.
1966 Fair Packaging and Labeling Act Requires all consumer products in interstate com-
merce to be honestly and informatively labeled.
1977 Saccharin Study and Labeling Act Stops FDA from banning the chemical sweetener
but requires a label warning that saccharin has
been found to cause cancer in laboratory animals.
1980 Infant Formula Act Establishes special FDA controls to ensure necessary
nutritional content and safety.
1982 Anti-Tampering Act Makes it a crime to tamper with packaged consumer
products.
(Continued)
1-4 Government regulation has ensured the safety and wholesomeness of the food supply for consumers in the United States.