Food Categories

The Codex GSFA's food category system is hierarchical and applies to all foodstuffs, including those in which no food additives are permitted. The system includes a description of the foods covered by each food category, as well as relevant food additive provisions.

The food categories are not intended for labeling purposes.

Click on a category below to view its description and relevant food additive provisions.

Food categories marked with this symbol may contain one or more subcategories listed in the Annex to Table 3. Table 3 provisions therefore apply only to some, but not all of the subcategories of the indicated category.

Table 3 provisions do not apply to categories marked with this symbol as they are listed in the Annex to Table 3.

Expand All - Click to show the entire food category hierarchy on one page for printing or online reference. Complete list may take a while to download on slower connections.

Collapse All - Click to condenses the food category list, showing only top-level categories. Click "+" to expand the list and view foods under a category.