FDA Posts Updates to its List of Chemicals Under Post-Market Review

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that the Agency has updated its “List of Select Chemicals in the Food Supply Under FDA Review” to include more information about its post-market assessment of chemicals in the food supply. The list, which was first published in July 2023, includes food-contact substances, in addition to food ingredients (including those considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS)), food additives, color additives, and contaminants that are currently under FDA review. Information about the status of the post-market assessments and links to public information about post-market actions are included in the list. 

The food-contact substances on the list include certain polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), bisphenol A (BPA), Irgafos 168 (Tris(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) phosphite), fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE), phthalates, and probylparaben.

FDA’s webpage containing its list of substances under review explains that a post-market assessment may be undertaken in response to a petition, or the Agency may initiate a review due to new information becoming available. For each of the chemicals on the list, FDA will progress through a series of steps. First, the Agency will review scientific information and engage with public health and research stakeholders to determine whether a safety assessment is needed. If FDA determines that there is a possible safety concern, the Agency will assess possible health effects on consumers, including vulnerable populations. Then FDA will conduct a risk management review to determine if action is needed to protect public health. Possible actions that FDA may take include revoking authorizations or approvals for certain uses, working with industry on a voluntary market phase-out, developing action levels, issuing alerts, and providing information to consumers and industry.

FDA’s assessment of chemicals in the food supply is part of its commitment to improving food safety under the proposed Human Foods Program.