What does the term 'food' include?

• A. Articles used for food and drink for humans and other animals, chewing gum, articles used as a component of food
• B. A food item must be edible to be considered food
• C. Only edible plant-based items are considered food
• D. Food includes non-edible products for topical use

Answer: (B)

Food is defined by its ability to be eaten for nourishment. If something cannot be eaten, it isn’t food. That makes the defining criterion edibility, which is exactly what the statement states: a food item must be edible to be considered food. This holds whether the item comes from plants or animals and even includes items that are eaten as part of a prepared dish. Non-edible products, such as cleaners or other non-ingestible substances, are not food. Keeping the focus on whether the item can be eaten helps distinguish what counts as food from everything else used in or around food preparation.