The U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues to implement its “bold food agenda.” Not only did FDA take steps to ensure the safety of chemicals used in food production, but it’s finalizing a new post-market assessment program and commencing reassessments of two additives commonly used in a variety of food products.
“Americans want the FDA to take a fresh look at some of the chemical additives that have become widespread in our food supply,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a release. “By establishing a comprehensive, science-based framework for reviewing chemicals like BHT and ADA, we’re delivering the rigorous oversight Americans deserve. We will act swiftly based on our findings.”
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) achieved a critical change in one of the two guidance documents for the post-market assessment program.
Based on input from NPPC and other organizations, the FDA made modifications to its previously proposed method for ranking chemicals for assessment, including dropping a broad “other decisional criteria,” which would have allowed food chemical risk scores to be influenced by non-scientific factors. The “Post-Market Assessment Prioritization Tool” document helps identify priority food chemicals – based on certain criteria – for full scientific assessment by focusing on their potential risk to public health, NPPC says.
The second document, “Enhanced Systematic Process for Post-Market Assessment of Chemicals in Food,” describes how the FDA will monitor and triage signals that provide information on hazards, use, or exposure related to food chemicals and how it will prioritize for assessment, evaluate and manage those chemicals in the food supply.
“The FDA’s assessment program provides consumers with confidence that the agency is ensuring chemicals in the U.S. food supply remain safe as new scientific information becomes available,” NPPC says. “The systematic, transparent approach helps protect public health and reinforces the rigorous safety standards that protect American consumers, according to the FDA.”
NPPC points out that its input in the post market assessment ensured that it was based on science and will continue to protect food ingredients already approved and safe in pork products.
