FDA aflatoxin policy upheld.FDA FDA abbr. Food and Drug Administration FDA, n.pr See Food and Drug Administration. FDA, n.pr the abbreviation for the Food and Drug Administration. aflatoxin policy upheld A June 17 ruling by the Supreme Court upholds Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules to regulate food "adulterants." The case involved aflatoxin, a potent poison produced by a mold, which naturally contaminates many crops. For such unavoidable contaminants, FDA has published either "tolerance levels," red-flag levels above which the agency might take action. Two public-interest groups sued FDA, charging that it violated the Federal Food, Drug adn Cosmetic Act by setting only an action level for the toxin toxin, poison produced by living organisms. Toxins are classified as either exotoxins or endotoxins. Exotoxins are a diverse group of soluble proteins released into the surrounding tissue by living bacterial cells. , rather than a strict tolerance. In an 8-to-1 decision, the high court ruled that the act's wording on this issue is grammatically gram·mat·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to grammar. 2. Conforming to the rules of grammar: a grammatical sentence. open to different interpretations: one that makes establishing a tolerance level mandatory for any toxic adulterant a·dul·ter·ant n. An additive causing an undesirable effect; impurity. a·dul  ter·ant adj. , the other that puts creation of such a tolerance at the agency's discretion. And, the court said, "We find the FDA's interpretation of [the disputed clause] to be sufficiently rational to preclude pre·clude tr.v. pre·clud·ed, pre·clud·ing, pre·cludes 1. To make impossible, as by action taken in advance; prevent. See Synonyms at prevent. 2. a court from substituting its [or the plaintiffs'] judgments for that of the FDA." |
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