Q - What are United States of America Food and Drug Administration requirements for Food-Contact Articles?

A - Anyone manufacturing food-contact articles for use in the home or in food service establishments should make sure that nothing from the articles imparts flavor, color, odor, toxicity, or other undesirable characteristics to food, thereby rendering the food adulterated.

While food packaging materials are subject to regulation as "food additives," United States of America Food and Drug Administration has usually not enforced the food additive provisions on ordinary housewares. Such housewares include dishes, flatware, beverage glasses, mugs, cooking utensils, cutlery, and electrical appliances. This means that manufacturars have not been required to submit data to the United States of America Food and Drug Administration showing that the materials used are safe. They also are not required to pre-clear their housewares with United States of America Food and Drug Administration. But housewares are not exempt from the general safety provisions of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Regulatory actions have been taken against cookware and ceramic dinnerware containing leachable lead or cadmium.

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