Motivation. Despite their essential role in modern food systems, food additives are under increasing scrutiny. Mounting evidence of potential health risks has fueled public debate, scientific inquiry, and concrete policy responses, ranging from state-level bans on specific additives to renewed federal evaluations. Understanding the health implications, regulatory landscape, and consumer exposure is crucial for building trust and guiding evidence-based governance.

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What we do. This project examines food additives under public and policy scrutiny, clarifying their regulatory frameworks, potential health impacts, prevalence in the U.S. food supply, and patterns of exposure across consumer groups. Our findings aim to provide the evidence needed to strengthen transparency and support more coherent, science-informed governance of food additives.