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Nutrition.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food Additives and Compounds

Find out about food additives: what they are, what they contribute to foods, how they are regulated, and how to identify them in the foods you eat.

  • Acrylamide Questions and Answers

    Wondering what acrylamide is and how it forms in food? This FDA resource explains the basics about this chemical and its safety.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

  • Consumer Info About Food Ingredients and Packaging

    Find information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on consumer information regarding food ingredients and packaging.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

  • How Safe are Color Additives?

    Facts you should know about color additive safety.

    • HHS, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

  • Artificial Sweeteners and Cancer

    Learn about artificial sweeteners, their regulation, and relationship to cancer.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute

  • Food Additives

    Read general information about food additives, including functions and side effects.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus

  • Sweeteners - Sugar Substitutes

    Get information on popular sugar substitutes including aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, stevia, and more.

    • HHS, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus