When determining what to eat or evaluating what dietary supplements to take, it can be difficult to navigate the often-confusing terminology surrounding these products. In general, food additives and dietary supplements are regulated by various federal laws and regulations and overseen by the Food and Drug Administration. Both additives and dietary supplements have to comply with these laws, though the laws impose different requirements based on the kind of substance involved.
Dietary Supplement Definition
A dietary supplement is any product that the consumer takes orally and contains a dietary ingredient, according to the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. Dietary ingredients include products such as plant extracts or other botanicals, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, amino acids and tissues from animal organs or glands. Dietary supplements are usually sold as pills, bars or liquids designed to supplement a person's diet but not intended to substitute as a food source.
Additives Definition
A food additive is any substance that is reasonably expected to become a part of a food, according to the FDA. Food additives are subject to FDA approval before manufacturers can use them in food. Similarly, any substance used to add color to food or change a food's color is considered a color additive. The FDA states that any color additive is considered unsafe unless its use is specifically permitted by regulation.
Approval
Another key distinction between dietary supplements and food additives is that the Food and Drug Administration has to approve any food additive before it can be used. However, the FDA does not have to approve dietary supplements. A dietary supplement manufacturer does not have to register its product with the FDA before selling it or marketing it. Unless a substance is generally recognized as safe by food scientists and experts, the FDA has to approve its use. The FDA considers any product that contains an unsafe or untested additive as adulterated.
Safety
While the FDA must determine if a substance used as a food additive is safe before it can be released in the market, the same is not true for dietary supplements. However, the law requires that dietary supplement manufacturers must ensure their products are safe before releasing them. If the FDA suspects a supplement is unsafe, it can issue a warning, or it can remove the product if it investigates it and determines it is not safe.
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