The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched the Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool (CCT Tool), a new online database designed to inform the public about potential chemical risks in food. This searchable platform consolidates established contaminant levels, such as tolerances and action levels, which help assess potential health risks in various food products.
The tool was introduced under the leadership of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who emphasized its role in promoting “radical transparency” for informed consumer choices.
“Ideally, there would be no contaminants in our food supply,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner, M.D., M.P.H. “However, certain foods may contain contaminants due to growing, storage, or processing environments.” Brenner encouraged consumers to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods to help reduce potential risks.
The CCT Tool is part of the FDA’s broader effort to modernize food chemical safety and improve public access to information about potential food hazards. The database includes contaminant names, affected commodities, threshold values, and official references such as FDA guidance and federal regulations.
For more information, consumers and industry professionals can access the CCT Tool via the FDA’s website.
