Food and nutrient toxicology

Where food is concerned, the main categorizations of the various chemicals that occur in food typically involve how they are regulated, which in turn dictates how and when they are considered to be safe. The main distinction, which is recognized internationally, is between additives and contaminants. While additives are intentionally added to food, contaminants are all the other constituents that are present naturally or unintentionally. As a practical matter, the food constituents that are addressed as contaminants are those that are known to be toxic. It is important to note that the distinction between a food additive and a contaminant is essentially legal. A chemical can be considered as either depending on how it becomes part of a food.