What does the FDA approve in relation to food products?

The FDA's role in food products primarily includes the regulation of health claims made on packaging and advertisements. This means that when companies want to assert that their products have specific health benefits or can prevent diseases, these claims must be substantiated with scientific evidence and approved by the FDA. This regulatory oversight helps ensure that consumers are not misled by false or exaggerated claims regarding a product's health benefits, promoting informed decision-making based on factual information.

While the FDA also oversees other aspects of food safety and labeling, such as ingredient lists and proper labeling practices, it does not approve product packaging designs or marketing strategies. Ingredient lists are regulated to ensure accuracy and transparency but do not require FDA approval prior to use. Therefore, health claims are the specific element the FDA actively evaluates and approves to safeguard public health.