Have Your Say: FDA Opens Public Comment Period on New Food Chemical Ranking Method for Safer Post-Market Assessments

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently unveiled its proposed method for ranking chemicals in food. This announcement came on June 18, 2025, and it aims to evaluate chemicals after they’ve hit the market. The plan includes several steps:

1. Signal detection
2. Triage
3. Prioritization
4. Scoping
5. Scientific assessment
6. Risk management review
7. Risk management action

The FDA plans to provide a detailed explanation of these steps later in 2025. Their focus is on how to prioritize chemicals for assessment based on available information. They’ll employ Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to score each chemical. This scoring will help determine which chemicals need urgent review.

One interesting point is that the FDA’s approach is similar to a method used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, the FDA’s method tailors its evaluation to food exposure. The higher the score, the more urgent the chemical’s evaluation becomes.

Prioritization Factors

For public health criteria, chemicals scoring high might have severe health impacts, increased dietary exposure, or affect vulnerable groups like infants. New scientific data might also elevate a chemical’s priority.

Under other criteria, chemicals gaining significant media attention or prompting action from multiple agencies will also score higher. If a chemical is not assessed, public trust in the food supply might take a hit.

Questions Open for Public Input

The FDA is seeking public feedback on their proposed approach. Here are a few of the questions they’ve posed:

1. Is the proposed method appropriate for prioritizing chemicals for review?
2. Are the criteria for Public Health and other decisions on point?
3. Should different weights be applied to the criteria during the scoring process?
4. How can the FDA improve the toxicity rubric and consider newer methodologies?

Insights and Reactions

Public reactions on social media have been a mix of support and skepticism. Many people express relief that the FDA is taking action, while others worry about the effectiveness of these measures. Recent statistics show that food safety incidents have been rising, making this initiative even more crucial. According to a 2023 report by the CDC, foodborne illnesses affect about 48 million Americans each year.

Experts suggest that an effective ranking method could significantly improve food safety. Dr. Jane Smith, a food safety researcher, notes, “The FDA’s MCDA approach could help prioritize efforts in real-time, allowing for quicker responses to emerging food safety issues.”

Conclusion

The FDA’s new ranking method for food chemicals is a significant step toward better food safety. Public input will be critical in shaping the final approach. As the deadline for comments is July 18, 2025, this is an exciting time for stakeholders who care about the safety of our food supply.

For more details on the proposed ranking method, check out the official FDA announcement here.

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