A public-facing database that reveals which foods contain chemical contaminants is now online thanks to new efforts by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The searchable tool is aimed at exposing risks that many families never realized they were consuming.
The project, run by the FDA, allows users to look up pesticide levels, chemical residues and industrial byproducts found in food. It marks one of the first consumer tools launched during Kennedy’s time at HHS.
Kennedy has made clear he wants to change how the U.S. government informs citizens about health risks — especially when it comes to what people eat. He described the database as a step toward “radical transparency.”
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
Each food and contaminant entry is paired with a regulatory level set by the FDA. These action thresholds allow the agency to monitor what is entering the food supply, though they are not legal limits or guarantees of safety.
FDA officials explained that while contamination may occur at various stages — farming, storage or transport — it doesn’t always mean food must be pulled from shelves. Instead, the agency uses the information to watch for patterns and intervene if needed.
Brenner, who serves as acting commissioner, said that while full elimination of harmful substances would be ideal, Americans should instead focus on eating a range of nutrient-rich foods to reduce risk.
The platform provides access to contaminants sorted by name, food item and risk category. It brings together scattered regulatory references in one searchable system for use by both the public and industry.
The FDA confirmed it will continue food testing nationwide as part of its modernization effort.
