Food Chemical Safety Science at IAFNS

The IAFNS Food Chemical Safety Committee mobilizes members from government, industry and academia to drive, fund and lead actionable science in support of public health.

Improving Food Safety

Through its tripartite model—bringing together scientists from government, academia, and industry—the Food Chemical Safety Committee funds external researchers and convenes experts to enhance the safety of our global food supply.

Focus Areas include:

  • Heavy Metals and Toxic Elements
  • Nanoplastics and Microplastics
  • Food Allergens
  • Evidence-Based Risk Assessment
  • New Approach Methods (NAMs)

Chemicals and Food Safety

The Food Chemical Safety Committee promotes a science-based assessment of the safety of foods and food ingredients to support public health.

For example, our work advances strategies for mitigating the presence of heavy metals in food and agricultural soils.

We fund and promote novel, exposure-focused risk assessment methods that leverage validated new approaches and scientific paradigms.

Lab Assistant with Foodstuffs
Advancing Exposure Assessment for Food Contaminants Through Implementation of Probabilistic Modeling
Principles for Food Classification Focused on Processing and Formulation

Explore recent publications and events from the Food Chemical Safety Committee.

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Committee Members

Food Chemical Safety Committee Members

FOCUS AREAS

NAMs Heavy Metals Microplastics Risk Assessment Food Allergens
NAMs

New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

FDA is launching a new program: Engaging NAMs for Toxicant REgulation and Effects (ENTREE) which is intended to help stakeholders develop and validate alternative method to be endorsed for regulatory use by FDA in advance for a specific use. NAMs include high-throughput non-animal tests along with new in vitro, in silico and powerful computer modeling tools. As a first step, IAFNS’ research will facilitate the use of NAMS starting with identifying classes of food substances that have cited NAMs data to support a regulatory approval. This includes a review of FDA GRAS findings, as well as those of the European Food Safety Authority.

Heavy Metals
Microplastics
Risk Assessment
Food Allergens

Projects Supported by the Committee

Evidence-Based Risk Assessment of Ingredients and Additives

Ingredient & Additive Risk Assessment Evidence-Based Risk Assessment of Ingredients and Additives This project focuses on the development of a framework to facilitate the risk […]

Soil Factors Driving Uptake of Toxic Elements by Rice and Leafy Greens

Investigating Soil Characteristics Soil Factors Driving Uptake of Toxic Elements by Rice & Leafy Greens Investigating how soil characteristics influence arsenic, cadmium, and lead levels […]

Exposure Characterization of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Foods

FCS and Packaging Committee Project: Exposure Characterization of Micro- and Nanoplastics in Foods The volume of plastics produced globally every year has steadily increased over […]

Review of EU Novel Food Submissions and US GRAS Petitions to Identify Opportunities for NAMS

Opportunities for NAMS in Food Safety Reviews Review of EU Novel Food Submissions and US GRAS Petitions to Identify Opportunities for NAMS The risk assessment […]

Heavy Metals in US Foods: Exposure Assessment by Age Group and Mitigation Strategies

Heavy Metal Exposure in US Foods by Age Group Heavy Metals in US Foods: Exposure Assessment by Age Group and Mitigation Strategies Heavy metals such […]

A Framework for Heavy Metal Prioritization and Mitigation for Reducing Metal Intake: Rice and Spinach Case Studies

Heavy Metal Risk and Mitigation in Rice and Spinach A Framework for Heavy Metal Prioritization and Mitigation for Reducing Metal Intake: Rice and Spinach Case […]

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Committee Publications

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