Adulteration
When a food product contains an unsafe substance, was processed under unsanitary conditions, or otherwise violates FDA safety standards.
What It Means
Adulteration in the context of food safety refers to a food product that is deemed unsafe or substandard under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Section 402 of the FD&C Act defines food as adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render it injurious to health; if it contains any added poisonous or deleterious substance that is unsafe; if it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance; if it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions where it may have become contaminated; if it contains an unsafe food additive or color additive; or if it contains a new animal drug that is unsafe. Adulteration is one of the primary legal bases for FDA food recalls. A food does not need to have actually caused illness to be considered adulterated, the mere potential for harm or the presence of unsanitary conditions is sufficient. Economic adulteration, where a cheaper substitute is used to cut a more expensive ingredient (such as diluting honey with corn syrup or substituting lower-quality fish species), is also a form of adulteration. The FDA addresses adulteration through inspections, sampling, testing, warning letters, recalls, import alerts, and in serious cases, criminal prosecution.
Related Terms
Misbranding
When a food product's label is false, misleading, or fails to include required information.
FDA Food Recall
A voluntary or mandatory action by a firm to remove a food product from the market when it may be unsafe or mislabeled.
FDA Warning Letter
An official communication from the FDA notifying a company of significant regulatory violations found during inspection.
Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
FDA regulations establishing minimum sanitary and processing requirements for food manufacturing facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Adulteration mean?
When a food product contains an unsafe substance, was processed under unsanitary conditions, or otherwise violates FDA safety standards.
Why is Adulteration important for food safety?
Adulteration in the context of food safety refers to a food product that is deemed unsafe or substandard under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Section 402 of the FD&C Act defines food as adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render i...