Postmarketing Monitoring of Food Additives for Safety

The FDA operates an Adverse Reaction Monitoring System (ARMS) to help serve as an ongoing safety check of all food additives. The system monitors and investigates all complaints by individuals or their physicians that are believed to be related to specific foods, food and color additives, or vitamin and mineral supplements. The ARMS computerized database helps officials decide whether reported adverse reactions represent a real public health hazard associated with food, so that appropriate action can be taken.

When consumers report product-related problems to FDA

How to report problems to the FDA

Back to Food Additive Safety Page

Prepared Summer 1997 by Bernadene Magnuson, Ph.D.
University of Idaho, Dept. of Food Science and Toxicology - EXTOXNET FAQ Team.