FDA Expanded Decision Tree for toxic chemical screening in food
If not evaluated or used properly, some chemicals in food may have toxic properties that pose risks to human health. FDA helps to safeguard the food supply by evaluating the safe use of chemicals as food ingredients and food contact substances. The FDA also monitors the food supply for chemical contaminants and takes action to limit exposure when the level of a contaminant could cause a food to be unsafe. To do this, FDA uses scientific and regulatory tools to assess the safety of chemicals in food while continually updating its methods to incorporate new approaches.
In July 2025, FDA released its Expanded Decision Tree chemical toxicity and risk screening tool that advances the agency’s commitment to transparency and enhancement of the food chemical safety program. The tool provides a consistent, systematic, and science-based approach to support evaluation of the safety of chemicals in food based on their structure and estimated toxicity. The Expanded Decision Tree was evaluated through external peer review, marking a significant milestone in its development. The update also incorporated input from stakeholders such as EPA, the National Toxicology Program, the European Food Safety Authority, and experts from academia and industry. FDA encourages interested parties to engage with the agency on the Expanded Decision Tree. Planned opportunities for public engagement include release of an informational video and listening sessions with technical, scientific, and trade groups to learn how the tool may impact their work.