The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is revamping its process to reassess food contact substances after release on the market. According to the press release, “the FDA is embarking on a more modernized, systematic reassessment of chemicals with a focus on post-market review.” Currently, agency-initiated reviews of post-market substances have low priority since most of the other processes come with strict response deadlines. So, “we [the FDA] are working to develop new approaches to mine existing data more efficiently and prioritize substances for in-depth review based on risk.”
A food contact substance at the US FDA includes food additives as well as chemicals from food packaging and processing equipment. Currently, most reviews take place either before a chemical goes on the market or in response to stakeholder petitions (FPF reported).
The FDA has been under fire in the last year for seemingly prioritizing the work of the drugs part of the agency over that of the food branch (FPF reported). Civil society organizations particularly highlighted in recent years the slow pace of change and the reliance on industry self-reporting to be classified “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS, FPF reported, also here and here). Both the US Congress’ General Accountability Office and an independent panel commissioned by the FDA suggested structural changes in late 2022 (FPF reported here and here, respectively) and this recent re-focusing effort is part of implementing the proposed changes.
Reference
US FDA (May 26, 2023). “How FDA’s new approach to reviewing chemicals added to food will strengthen food safety.”
Read more
US FDA (July 12, 2023). “Food chemical safety: Enhanced approach.”
Britt E. Erickson (July 16, 2023). “FDA homes in on harmful chemicals in food.” Chemical and Engineering News.
Julia John (July 3, 2023). “US FDA moves to implement systematic food chemical reassessment scheme.” Chemical Watch.
