Toxicity Testing

Toxicity testing is a system of different forms of scientific research to establish the toxic dose of a substance either in humans or other living organisms in the environment. In terms of food, the most important toxicity testing is performed for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): testing the safety of food additives. These include food color additives, food ingredients, and substances used in food packaging. If a company wants to use a new additive, it must petition for FDA approval after performing extensive research into the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the new additive. No testing is required if a substance falls under the category known as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Testing the safety or toxicity of a substance is performed ...