n. 1. (Physical Geography). a. the inundation of land that is normally dry through the overflowing of a body of water, esp a river. b. the state of a river that is at an abnormally high level (esp in the phrase in flood).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and is responsible for the safety regulation of most types of foods, dietary supplements, drugs, vaccines, biological medical products, blood products, medical devices, radiation-emitting devices, veterinary products, and cosmetics.
The FDA works with Congress, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other governing bodies to set food-labeling standards. The FDA does not preapprove labels but has the right to request changes or removal of labels that do not meet its specifications. Therefore, food manufacturers have some freedom in labeling and can work creatively to provide consumers with the information needed to make purchasing decisions (FDA 2008).