In July 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated its comprehensive online portal covering food ingredient safety, food contact substances, and chemical migration concerns in packaging. The refreshed resource provides streamlined access to databases, safety notifications, and regulatory guidance that reflect the growing public and scientific attention on what goes into our food—and what leaches into it.
From plastic wraps to can liners and cardboard coatings, the materials that hold our food may be adding more than just convenience. With increasing awareness of endocrine disruptors, microplastics, and packaging by-products, this FDA update marks a crucial step—but not the full solution.
For manufacturers, distributors, and food safety labs, the message is clear: staying compliant means going beyond basic safety checks. It means adapting to newer materials, complex supply chains, and more demanding consumer expectations.
At CMDC Labs, we’re helping the industry do just that—with comprehensive services that test, validate, and support compliance for both ingredients and the materials that touch them.
Why Food Packaging Safety Is in the Spotlight
We tend to think of food safety in terms of microbes—salmonella, listeria, E. coli. But chemical safety is just as critical.
Here’s why:
- Food packaging chemicals can migrate into food during storage or heating. These may include plasticizers (like phthalates), solvents, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), adhesives, or residual monomers.
- Emerging contaminants such as bisphenol A (BPA) replacements, PFAS, and nanoparticle coatings may escape traditional test panels.
- Cumulative exposure from packaged meals, bottled drinks, and microwavable products is now being linked to hormonal disruption, reproductive health concerns, and chronic inflammation.
The FDA’s updated portal helps the public and food industry stakeholders track safety decisions, submit inquiries, and review approved food contact substances (FCS). But real-world assurance comes from accurate, proactive testing—especially as new materials enter the market faster than ever.
What the FDA Updated (July 2025)
The refreshed FDA portal (fda.gov/food/chemicals) now includes:
- A searchable inventory of over 2,000 approved food contact substances
- Faster access to GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) notices and responses
- Enhanced submission tools for Food Contact Notifications (FCNs)
- Improved guidance on chemical migration risk and cumulative exposure models
- Newly updated toxicology references and methods for substance evaluation
These updates reflect ongoing regulatory pressure, scientific input, and consumer advocacy around chemicals of concern. But approval does not mean absence of risk—especially when testing isn’t keeping pace with innovation.
Where Labs Like CMDC Come In
Navigating the growing landscape of food-packaging safety requires scientific depth, validated methods, and cross-functional understanding of regulatory trends, analytical chemistry, and toxicology.
CMDC Labs supports stakeholders with:
1. Chemical Migration Testing
We perform migration analysis to determine whether packaging materials release substances into food under real-use conditions. This includes:
- Overall and specific migration testing under EU and FDA protocols
- Simulated conditions (acidic, fatty, alcoholic, or aqueous food simulants)
- Testing for packaging components: inks, adhesives, plasticizers, coatings
- Assessments across temperature and time profiles (e.g., shelf life, reheating)
This is essential for validating both new packaging materials and changes in process conditions, like modified heating protocols or different food types.
2. Food Contact Material Compliance
We help brands and manufacturers determine if their packaging meets:
- FDA Food Contact Notifications (FCNs)
- 21 CFR indirect food additive regulations
- EU Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004
- California Prop 65 disclosure requirements
Whether you’re launching a new food product, switching suppliers, or entering new markets, CMDC Labs provides the documentation and test data needed to support your regulatory filings.
3. Screening for Emerging Chemicals
The food packaging industry is evolving. Today’s “BPA-free” may simply mean “BPS-present.” PFAS may appear under proprietary names. Some new plant-based or bio-coated packaging introduces new unknowns.
CMDC Labs can test for:
- Phthalates and plasticizers
- Bisphenols (A, S, F, AF)
- PFAS compounds (legacy and short-chain)
- Nanoparticles and metallic residues
- Migratory antioxidants, solvents, and monomers
We use advanced techniques like LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, FTIR, and ICP-MS to detect ultra-low levels of leachable substances and validate absence or compliance against thresholds.
4. Ingredient Compatibility & Stability Testing
Sometimes it’s not just the packaging—it’s the interaction between packaging and the food product itself.
We offer:
- Stability studies to detect formulation changes or ingredient breakdown
- Shelf-life simulations under various packaging types
- Organoleptic testing (taste, odor, texture impact) due to leachable compounds
This helps identify and fix packaging-induced degradation before products reach shelves.
5. Technical Dossiers & Expert Guidance
We support clients in preparing:
- Technical documentation for regulators and retailers
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA) for supply chain transparency
- Scientific justification for marketing claims (e.g., “PFAS-Free”, “Non-Toxic Packaging”)
- Guidance on claim risks, greenwashing pitfalls, and test-backed sustainability
Our team includes toxicologists, analytical chemists, and regulatory consultants—giving you more than a lab report: you get clear direction.
Who Needs These Services?
- Food and beverage manufacturers launching new products or packaging
- Private-label brands sourcing from third-party co-packers
- Packaging material developers creating bio-based, compostable, or recycled content
- Retailers and importers requiring full compliance traceability
- Legal and QA teams verifying that marketing claims match lab data
What’s at Stake Without Testing?
- Regulatory risk: Non-compliance can trigger recalls, FDA warning letters, import bans
- Brand reputation: Consumer trust in “safe” and “green” packaging is fragile
- Litigation exposure: Undisclosed PFAS or BPA analogues may lead to class actions
- Retail rejection: Major U.S. retailers increasingly require compliance documentation for all food-contact components
A single undetected compound can derail an entire product launch—or worse, compromise public health.
What Makes CMDC Labs Different?
- FDA-aligned protocols and up-to-date methodology
- Deep experience in both food ingredients and packaging
- Fast turnaround for pre-market screening and emergency compliance
- Ability to communicate results clearly—to regulators, buyers, and consumers
- Commitment to being a science-led, ethics-forward partner
Our testing helps companies go beyond basics, avoid costly surprises, and build lasting trust in their product lines.
Final Thoughts
The FDA’s updated chemical safety portal is a helpful resource—but staying compliant in today’s market requires more than access to information. It demands lab action, scientific precision, and proactive problem-solving.
CMDC Labs is proud to support the food industry in this next phase of safety and innovation—helping companies protect both their consumers and their reputations.
Because when it comes to what touches our food, the smallest trace can matter the most.
Verified Sources:
- FDA Food Chemical Safety Portal (Updated July 2025)
Official FDA hub for food ingredient and packaging chemical safety, featuring updated tools and guidance. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/food-chemical-safety - FDA List of Select Chemicals Under Review
Details chemicals currently being evaluated by the FDA for use in food and food-contact materials. https://www.fda.gov/food/food-chemical-safety/list-select-chemicals-food-supply-under-fda-review - FDA Launches New Post-Market Assessment Tool (July 2025)
Overview of FDA’s efforts to prioritize food chemical safety reviews using data-driven methods. https://www.hklaw.com/en/insights/publications/2025/07/food-and-chemical-update-fda-unveils-data-driven-assessment-tool - FDA’s Plan to Modernize Chemical Review Program
News report summarizing FDA’s May–July 2025 initiatives to overhaul its food chemical safety protocols. https://natlawreview.com/article/fda-overhaul-post-market-chemical-review-program-food-chemicals - EWG Report: Industry Approvals Outpace FDA Oversight
Nonprofit analysis showing most food chemicals in use were self-approved by industry, not FDA-reviewed. https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2025/07/interactive-map-tracking-state-food-chemical-regulation-us
