Kennedy’s FDA Tool Lets Americans Check Safety Of Their Groceries
Americans can now look up what kinds of chemical contaminants may be present in their groceries, thanks to a new online tool unveiled by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The tool is one of the first public-facing transparency efforts rolled out under Kennedy’s leadership.
The Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool was developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to show the levels of harmful substances that might be found in everyday foods. Users can filter through items like fruits, vegetables or grains and see what chemicals have been detected and how those levels compare to federal action limits.
To increase transparency, today, FDA unveiled the Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool, an online searchable database providing a consolidated list of contaminant levels that are used to evaluate potential health risks of contaminants in human foods. https://t.co/FgBhe3PUQP pic.twitter.com/iD8DoLYR9P
— U.S. FDA Human Foods Program (@FDAfood) March 20, 2025
Kennedy emphasized that his goal is to arm the public with real data, allowing them to make informed decisions about what they eat. He called the tool a step toward his broader campaign to “Make America Healthy Again.”
The FDA database covers numerous contaminants, including pesticides and industrial chemicals. Each entry lists the name of the contaminant, the affected food item, the level of concern and the regulatory source — such as FDA guidance or the Code of Federal Regulations.
According to Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, there’s no simple way to keep all contaminants out of the food supply. She noted that chemical residues can occur naturally or enter during storage and processing. Brenner recommended that Americans eat a broad mix of healthy foods to reduce their risk from any one source.
The database was launched as part of a larger modernization effort focused on food chemical safety. Consolidating this information into one place is meant to help consumers, researchers and companies alike.
FDA officials said the agency will continue routine testing and monitoring of the food supply through existing programs, with updates to the tool expected as new data becomes available.