食品接触材料即为“任何组成用来生产、包装、装箱、运输或放置食品的材料的物质，同时此物质对食品没有任何技术作用”。很多食品接触材料的厂商被要求满足FDA的要求。通常食品接触材料分为直接接触食品和间接接触食品的材料，直接接触食品的材料，需要满足FDA的要求。

A food-contact substance is defined as "any substance intended for use as a component of materials used in manufacturing, packing, packaging, transporting, or holding food if such use is not intended to have a technical effect in such food."