RFK Jr. Launches Food Contaminant Search Tool To Expose What’s Really In US Food Supply
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has unveiled a new searchable database that allows Americans to look up chemical contaminants found in their food — a move aimed at forcing transparency on the food industry and shining light on what consumers are actually eating.
The Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool was created by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under Kennedy’s direction. It’s designed to let users search for contaminants in food, including pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals that may be present during production, storage or processing.
Kennedy said the tool reflects his commitment to “radical transparency” and gives Americans the “authentic, informed consent” they deserve when it comes to what they’re consuming. The tool is part of his broader initiative to “Make America Healthy Again.”
The database provides a list of contaminants, including their names, associated food commodities and levels that may be used by the FDA to assess potential risk. These levels — referred to as tolerances, action levels or guidance levels — help the agency determine when a food product may pose a health concern, though they do not mean the levels are acceptable or permitted.
FDA Acting Commissioner Sara Brenner emphasized that while the goal is to have zero contaminants, it’s not always possible due to environmental and industrial factors. She advised that consumers eat a wide range of healthy foods across different categories — vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy and proteins — to help offset the potential effects of exposure.
The release of this tool comes as part of a wider modernization effort by the FDA to improve food chemical safety and centralize contaminant data for the public and the food industry.
The searchable system allows filters by type of contaminant and provides references for each listed level, such as FDA regulations and guidance documents. It compiles this information in one place to make it easier for consumers, researchers and businesses to track.
The agency says it will continue testing food samples through various monitoring programs already in place across the country.
