US Government Regulations and International Standards Related to Food Analysis

Abstract

Various kinds of standards set for certain food products by federal agencies make it possible to get essentially the same food product whenever and wherever purchased in the USA. Knowledge of government regulations relevant to the chemical analysis of foods is extremely important to persons working in the food industry. Federal laws and regulations reinforce the efforts of the food industry to provide wholesome foods, to inform consumers about the nutritional composition of foods, and to eliminate economic frauds. In some cases, they dictate what ingredients a food must contain, what must be tested, and the procedures used to analyze foods for safety factors and quality attributes. This chapter describes the US federal regulations (except nutrition labeling, which is covered in Chap. 3) as they relate to food composition and analysis. The chapter also includes information about specifications for foods purchased by government agencies, along with food standards and safety practices established by international organizations.