The sneaky way companies get new chemicals into our food
Planet Money
- Published
- May 29, 2026
- Duration
- 35:41
- Summary source
- description
- Last updated
- Jun 10, 2026
Discusses 99% of chemicals in our food right now were added without FDA approval. Many were added in secret, t…
Summary
99% of chemicals in our food right now were added without FDA approval. Many were added in secret, through a sneaky loophole built into the 1958 Food Additives Amendment.It was supposed to require FDA approval for new additives. But food companies and chemical makers found a workaround. And the FDA formally okayed the loophole in the 90s — in the process …
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Show notes
99% of chemicals in our food right now were added without FDA approval. Many were added in secret, through a sneaky loophole built into the 1958 Food Additives Amendment.It was supposed to require FDA approval for new additives. But food companies and chemical makers found a workaround. And the FDA formally okayed the loophole in the 90s — in the process bringing attention to a loophole to the loophole.The FDA has essentially admitted it doesn’t have the capacity to verify the safety of new food