FDA Launches Online Tool for Food Chemical Contaminants

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched the Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool, an online searchable database that lists contaminant levels in human foods. This initiative, led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aims to enhance food safety by providing clear information about chemical contaminants and their potential health risks. The tool includes various contaminant levels such as tolerances, action levels, and guidance levels but emphasizes that these do not equate to permissible contamination levels. Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner noted that while the goal is to eliminate contaminants, they may still be present due to environmental factors during food production. The CCT Tool is part of the FDA's broader effort to modernize food safety practices and ensure consumers are informed about what they are eating. The database is designed to help both consumers and the food industry in making safer choices.