fdaregulationofleadinfood.pptVIP

FDA Regulation of Lead in Food Michael E. Kashtock, Ph.D. U. S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition ACPS-CP Meeting July 22, 2008 FDA’s Early History of Regulation of Lead in Food FDA activities to control lead in food trace back to early 1900s. 1908 Green coffee colored with lead chromate seized The major concern thru WWII was use of lead arsenate spray on apple orchards for insect control. Apples were washed to remove Pb, As residues, FDA extensively monitored apple products thru 1940s and enforced tolerances for Pb, As. FDA’s Early History of Regulation of Lead in Food First extensive testing of foods for lead contamination was in the 1930s. Many foods found to have “small” amounts of lead Very few findings of problematic levels From August 1935 FDA Report “Absolute freedom from lead is impossible of attainment in civilized and perhaps even primitive society because of the widespread occurrence in natural products of minute though appreciable amounts of this metal in the order of a few thousandths of a grain per pound.” Foundational FDA Policy– Remains to This Day Prevent avoidable introduction of lead into food Control the unavoidable introduction of lead into food Example: Lead arsenate spraying not permitted on vegetables (alternatives available), permitted on fruit (no-alternatives) but fruit was washed and subject to a tolerance Broad Based Lead Reduction Efforts in the 1970s By 1970 concerns about public exposure to lead had grown as studies demonstrated lower thresholds for adverse effects Lead reduction efforts of 1970s EPA begins phasedown of leaded gasoline FDA initiates efforts to reduce lead levels in canned foods 1971, Congress passes Lead Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act Progress in the 1970s and 1980s FDA Total Diet Study -- 14-16 y/o males Est. daily lead intake, 1972-1982 = 60-90 μg/day Reduction from 1982/84-1990/91 -- 38 μg/day to 3.2 μg/day Intake 1991-1996 = 4 μg/day Similar reductions occurre