Testing for Adulterated Foods

A food is illegal (adulterated) if it bears or contains an added poisonous or deleterious (harmful) substance which may render it injurious to health.This is the definition of an “Adulterated Food” that is found in Section 402(a)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). This definition encompasses not only added deleterious or unfit substances, but also pesticides, unsafe food additives, poisonous container components that may affect the food, and the intentional application of una…