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This article discusses the campaign against nanotechnology in foods, noting that this type of development in food science has eroded the precautionary principle as guidance for developing health and safety regulations. This principle, which calls for the limitations to the commercial availability of new products until they are proven safe, is discussed. The European Union Regulation 178/2002, and the European Commission Draft Novel Foods Regulation, both of which establish this principle in the release of new food products, are discussed. The conflict between these principles and the free trade imperatives of the EU are also noted.