Which statement best captures the core prohibition of the Delaney Clause?

Which statement best captures the core prohibition of the Delaney Clause?

• A. Any substance found to cause cancer cannot be approved as a food additive.
• B. Substances proven to cause cancer in humans must be banned.
• C. Any testing indicating the substance may cause cancer in humans or animals
• D. Substances with any evidence of potential cancer risk must be banned.

Answer: (A)

The Delaney Clause enforces a strict prohibition: if a substance has been found to cause cancer, it cannot be approved as a food additive. This means that evidence of carcinogenicity in any study, whether in humans or animals, disqualifies a substance from approval, regardless of dose or perceived risk. That’s why the best statement is the one that says any substance found to cause cancer cannot be approved as a food additive. The other options don’t match this strict standard: one narrows to proven cancer in humans, another focuses on any testing suggesting potential, and another bans substances with any potential cancer risk rather than a demonstrated carcinogenic effect.

The Delaney Clause enforces a strict prohibition: if a substance has been found to cause cancer, it cannot be approved as a food additive. This means that evidence of carcinogenicity in any study, whether in humans or animals, disqualifies a substance from approval, regardless of dose or perceived risk.

That’s why the best statement is the one that says any substance found to cause cancer cannot be approved as a food additive. The other options don’t match this strict standard: one narrows to proven cancer in humans, another focuses on any testing suggesting potential, and another bans substances with any potential cancer risk rather than a demonstrated carcinogenic effect.