(EFC) Government and Legislation Factors Lesson
Government and Legislation Factors
There are federal, state and local laws that influence food choices. Political factors also influence food availability and trends. Food laws and trade agreements affect what is available within and across countries, and also affect food prices. The Federal Government provides consumers access to nutrition information and education through initiatives such as the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate plan, and through regulatory mechanisms such as mandatory nutrition labeling of packaged foods. Food labeling laws determine what consumers know about the food they purchase. Eating habits are thus the result of both external factors, such as politics, and internal factors, such as values. These habits are formed, and may change, over a person's lifetime.
Explore each section in the tabs below to learn more.
USDA - United States Department of Agriculture
A Food and Nutrition Service that strives to improve nutrition within the U.S.; responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, agriculture, forestry and food
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
Sets rules and guidelines as well as provides information and education on nutrition and food safety
FSIS: Food Safety and Inspection Service
The public agency in the U. S. Department of Agriculture responsible for ensuring that the nation’s commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged
Delaney Clause
A part of the 1958 Food Additives Amendment to the 1954 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). This clause governs regulation of pesticide residues in processed foods; states that is a substance were found to cause cancer in man or animal, then it could not be used as a food additive
GRAS: Generally Recognized As Safe
A FDA designation that a chemical or substance added to food is considered safe by experts, and so is exempted from the usual FFDCA food tolerance requirements
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