Discusses the "Delaney clause" of the Food, drug, and cosmetic act.

Regulation of Cancer-Causing Food Additives--Time for a Change

The 1958 Delaney Clause of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, which requires the Food and Drug Administration to ban the use of cancer-causing food additives, continues to be a source of controversy, an emotional issue, and a target for change. While food safety experts agree that the Delaney Clause should be changed because of its inflexibility, they disagree on the regulatory alternatives that should replace it. This report discusses the views of experts on this matter, the scientific tests used as a basis for decisionmaking, and the manner in which different agencies regulate cancer-causing substances. It also presents several alternative decisionmaking frame-works for the Congress to consider.