Here's how you know.
 **Official websites use .gov**
        
        A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
        
        A **lock** (  ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
 National Agricultural Library
                U.S. Department of Agriculture
        
                              Secondary Links
  

        
      Ask A QuestionContact UsDigiTopSite Search
Submit Search

                              menu

                                      Main menu

      
      HomeTopicsAnimal Health and WelfareEconomics, Business, and TradeFarms and Agricultural Production SystemsHuman Nutrition and Food SafetyNatural Resources, Conservation, and EnvironmentPlant Production and GardeningRural Development and CommunitiesAll TopicsResearch ToolsNAL Catalog (AGRICOLA)PubAgAg Data CommonsNAL ThesaurusFood Data CentralFood Safety Research Projects DatabaseManuscript Collections SearchAll Research ToolsCollectionsDigital CollectionsExhibitsSpecial CollectionsStories From the CollectionGovernment DocumentsAll CollectionsDataScientific Data ServicesData Management Planning ServicesCreate a DMPDMP Feedback and ReviewFind a Data RepositoryData Management GlossaryData Management VideosServicesPublic Access and Open Science at USDAData Management PlanningAg Data Commons User GuideDigiTopBorrow MaterialsReference and ResearchAll ServicesAbout UsAbout the LibraryEventsOrganization ChartInternshipsProgram AreasContact Us Home
          Human Nutrition and Food Safety
          Food Safety: Chemical ContaminantsFood Safety: Chemical Contaminants

  Non-microbial contaminants such as pesticide residues, heavy metals, and other toxic substances are presented below.
On this page, watch or read USDA presentations, access research projects, and find links to articles and external resources containing information about chemical contaminants
  Featured Resources
    
    Chemical Contaminant Research at the USDA Agricultural Research Service
    
    USDA ARS scientists conduct research on  chemical residues and contaminants.

    Learn About ARS Research
      
              Research Publications (Food Safety): Chemical Contaminants
    
    Research publications on chemical contaminants from peer-reviewed journals.

    Browse Current Articles
      
              Research Projects: Pesticide Residues
    
    The Food Safety Research Projects Database (RPD) contains information about research projects related to the study of pesticide residues.

    Search for Projects

  Meet the Experts
        
                  USDA-ARS Scientists Present Overviews of their Research
    
    **Title: Radio-frequency power for the pasteurization of Salmonella typhimurium in shell eggs**(Introductory Video)
Investigator: David Geveke, PhD
Date: 2019
View full-length video of Dr. Geveke speaking about radio-frequency power for the pasteurization of Salmonella typhimurium in shell eggs [youtube.com]
      
              **Title: Assurance of Microbiological Safety of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Foods****(Introductory Video)
Investigator: Vijay Juneja, PhD
Date: 2019
View full-length video of Dr. Vijay Juneja speaking about assurance of Microbiological Safety of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Foods [youtube.com]
      
              **Title: STEC biofilms within microbial communities in food****(Introductory Video)
Investigator: George Paoli, PhD
Date: 2019
View full-length video of Dr. George Paoli speaking about STEC biofilms within microbial communities in food [youtube.com]


  Chemical Contaminant Presentations
        
                  Selected Presentations by USDA Scientists at ARS-FSIS Annual Meetings
    
    **ARS-FSIS 2019 Food Safety Meeting**
Fluxin Residues in Cattle - Why? [PDF, 5 pages]. Nancy Shappell, David Smith
Develop, validate, and transfer multiclass, multiresidue methods for pesticides, environmental, and emerging contaminants in FSIS-regulated foods, and conduct a survey of food samples for the contaminants [PDF, 28 pages].Yelena Sapozhnikova
Detection and Fate of Chemical and Biological Residues in Food and Environmental Systems[PDF, 31pages]. David Smith, Nancy Shappell, Weillin Shelver
Environmental, Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory [PDF, 24 pages]. Manan Sharma
Biocontrol Interventions for High-Value Ag Commodities [PDF, 18 pages]. Jong Heon Kim
The distribution of environmental contaminants and pharmaceuticals among skim milk, milk fat, curd, whey, and milk protein fractions through milk processing [PDF, 39 pages]. Weilin L. Shelver, Sara J. Lupton, Nancy W. Shappell, Heldur Hakk, David J. Smith**ARS-FSIS 2018 Food Safety Meeting**
The How and Why of Sampling Analyses [PDF, 9 pages]. Emilio Esteban, Michelle Catlin
Rapid Screening Methods for the Feed Additive Zilpaterol [PDF, 25 pages]. Weilin Liu Shelver, David J. Smith
Progress on Development of Field-Based Rapid Methods for Foodborne Pathogens [PDF, 15 pages]. Andrew Gehring**ARS-FSIS 2017 Food Safety Meeting**
Technologies for Detection of Chemical and Biological Contaminants in Foods [PDF, 87 pages]. Guoying Chen, Steven J. Lehotay, Yelena Sapozhnikova, Johnny Perez
Environmental Microbial and Food Safety Laboratory [PDF, 6 pages]. Moon Kim


  Selected External Resources on Chemical Contaminants
    
    AcrylamideA chemical reaction that can form naturally during high-temperature cooking processes in foods including frying, roasting, etc.
Acrylamide [fda.gov]
Acrylamide Hazard Summary [epa.gov] [PDF, 57.2 KB]
Acrylamide [food.gov.uk]
Materials and Links to Acrylamide in Foods [bfr.bund.de]
Acrylamide [nih.gov]Bisphenol A (BPA)A chemical contaminant from plastic products that can break down or leak into food or liquids.
Bisphenol A (BPA): Use in Food Contact Application [fda.gov]
Bisphenol A (BPA) [nih.gov]
Overview of Bisphenol A [efsa.europa.eu]Dioxins, Furans and PCBsDioxins, Furans and PCBs are toxic chemicals that are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in food.
Fiscal year 2024 Dioxin Survey [fsis.usda.gov]
Dioxin Related Activities [fsis.usda.gov]
Dioxins [nih.gov]
Dioxins and Furans [canada.ca]
Furan [fda.gov]
Questions and Answers on the Occurrence of Furan in Food [fda.gov]MercuryA chemical element that is found in natural concentrations or through pollution in food sources, primarily in seafood.
Mercury Levels in Commercial Fish and Shellfish [fda.gov]
Mercury in Food [ec.europa.edu]
Mercury and Methylmercury [fda.gov]Pesticide ResiduesResources to protect food crops from pesticide residues which can leak toxic residues into food.
Pesticide Data Program [data.nal.usda.gov]
Pesticide Data Program [ams.usda.gov]
Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary 2020 [ams.usda.gov] [PDF, 7.37 MB]
Pesticides [food.ec.europa.eu]
Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program Reports and Data [fda.gov]
About Pesticides [epa.gov]Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH)PAH are a class of chemical compounds transmitted to food during cooking at high temperatures such as grilling or barbecuing.
Protocol for Interpretation and Use of Sensory Testing and Analytical Chemistry Results for Re-Opening Oil-Impacted Areas Closed to Seafood Harvesting [fda.gov]
Factsheet Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons [cdc.gov]
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons [ifst.org]Radioactive ContaminationInformation about radioactive elements that can transmit to domestic and imported foods.
Radioactivity in Food and the Environment [publishing.service.gov.uk] [PDF, 9.41 MB]
RadNet [epa.gov]
Radionuclides in Domestic and Imported Foods [fda.gov]
Radioactivity in Food [food.gov.uk]Page Content Curated By
    

      Food Safety Research Information Office (FSRIO)
 Footer menu
  

        
      HomeSitemapSocial MediaFacebookTwitterYouTube
          
          Government Links
            AskUSDA
  Policies and Links
  Plain Writing
  FOIA
  Accessibility Statement
  Privacy Policy
  Non-Discrimination Statement
  Civil Rights Policy
  Information Quality
  Agricultural Research Service
  USDA.gov
  USA.gov
  WhiteHouse.govSign up for ARS News updates
                Your email address