Consumers can now check what chemical residues might be in their pantry items using a new online tool launched by the FDA. The Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool was introduced under the leadership of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy has long criticized the lack of openness in the U.S. food system. This latest move fits into his broader agenda to demand honesty from both regulators and manufacturers. He has framed it as part of his mission to “Make America Healthy Again.”
The tool allows users to look up food items and view levels of specific chemical contaminants. These range from pesticides to additives to environmental residues that can enter the food supply during production or packaging.
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
FDA benchmarks — including tolerances and action levels — are shown alongside each contaminant. These thresholds help determine when a food might be unsafe, though they are not blanket safety approvals.
The FDA’s Sara Brenner noted that the presence of chemicals doesn’t always mean a product is dangerous but stressed that minimizing exposure is key. She advised that eating a balanced mix of food types can help reduce potential harm.
Unlike previous systems that required users to dig through agency documents, the new database presents everything in one location. Filters allow searches by food group or contaminant type.
The FDA said it will continue to update the tool as new food tests are completed across the country.
