The U.S. government has unveiled a new online tool that gives Americans access to chemical safety data in their food for the first time in one searchable format. The initiative, announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., was designed to improve transparency around what people are eating.
The database, created by the Food and Drug Administration, collects government thresholds and testing information on a wide range of food contaminants. From pesticide exposure to industrial residues, the platform allows users to check food items and see how much of each substance is found in them.
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 said the project reflects his push to return power to American consumers and to hold the food industry accountable. His broader agenda is built around what he calls “radical transparency” and giving the public informed consent on what goes into their bodies.
Rather than offering blanket approvals, the tool shows tolerance levels and action points the FDA uses to decide when a product could pose a health concern. These standards vary by substance and are used to guide agency intervention.
Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner explained that food can become contaminated during many stages of production — from growing to packaging — and advised the public to eat broadly across food categories to limit risk.
Each contaminant listed in the database is paired with its known threshold and legal reference point. That includes material drawn from federal codes, agency guidance and safety frameworks developed over time.
The FDA plans to keep updating the system as more samples are collected across the country through multiple surveillance programs.
