Reforming Food Testing: What Changes To The FDA Mean For Safety And Industry Standards

By Stefano Tommasone Ph.D.Reviewed by Lauren Hardaker

The U.S. food safety system is undergoing substantial reform following the introduction of new policies by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) between late 2024 and mid-2025. These changes affect several areas, including microbial testing, chemical contaminant control, additives, and product labeling, and aim to modernize oversight, integrate new tools, and improve transparency.

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The FDA, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is responsible for the safety and security of the U.S. food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and medical devices, protecting public health.

The latest changes have several implications for the food industry, from adopting new technologies to meeting stricter reporting expectations while ensuring safety and consumer trust.

Microbial Safety Testing and Traceability

Microbial contamination is among the most immediate threats to food safety. The FDA has introduced measures through the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to prevent foodborne illnesses. Several rules have been finalized to implement FSMA and ensure specific actions are taken to avoid contamination across the animal and human food supply chain.

One of the most significant changes is the food traceability rule, which requires manufacturers, processors, packers, and food distributors to maintain detailed records of key tracking events, from harvesting to packing and shipping.^[1] Although the complete traceability requirements for high-risk foods may not take effect until 2028, companies are already under pressure to strengthen microbial prevention strategies and supply chain documentation.

Alongside regulatory requirements, technological advances are changing the landscape of microbial testing, such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), which is increasingly applied in industry for routine monitoring and source tracking.^[2] Emerging tools such as biosensors and volatile compound detectors offer real-time contamination detection, while machine learning models trained on genomic and environmental data are beginning to predict microbial risks before they become systemic. These innovations indicate a shift from reactive detection to preventive controls.

Chemical Contaminants and Residues Transparency and Screening

Chemical residues, whether arising from environmental contamination, agricultural practices, or processing, remain a crucial regulatory challenge. In March 2025, the FDA and HHS introduced the Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool, an online database of contaminant levels that evaluates potential health risks of contaminants in human foods.^[3]

The tool makes regulatory benchmarks easier to access by consolidating tolerances, action levels, and advisory thresholds for heavy metals, mycotoxins, and industrial chemicals. It is a compliance resource for manufacturers and a public accountability mechanism, as the increased visibility may encourage companies to strengthen monitoring beyond regulatory minimums.

In parallel, the FDA released the Expanded Decision Tree for food chemical toxicity screening, which incorporates endpoints for developmental, neurotoxic, and endocrine effects, and applies modern dietary exposure models.^[4] This tool allows a more structured process for regulators in prioritizing chemical evaluations, while industry benefits from the ability to pre-screen potential additives before formal submission. The decision tree reflects the FDA’s trend towards predictive toxicology and less reliance on animal testing.

Withdrawal Standards of Identity

Another important reform is the decision to revoke 52 outdated standards of identity. These rules used to prescribe precise compositions for foods such as canned fruits, macaroni products, and juices. While they helped define consistency, many predated modern protections around ingredient safety, labeling, nutrition claims, and good manufacturing practices.^[5]

Removing these standards intends to eliminate unnecessary regulatory burdens and encourage product innovation. Manufacturers now have greater freedom to reformulate products, explore plant-based alternatives, or reduce sugar without conflicting with outdated requirements.

This flexibility also brings new responsibility, since consumer protection depends more heavily on accurate labeling and effective enforcement against misleading claims without prescriptive standards. For example, increased vigilance is needed to prevent misbranding and food fraud, which have been persistent challenges in categories such as olive oil and honey. Regulators will need to rely on post-market surveillance rather than pre-defined compositional rules.

Stringent Requirements on Additives and Colorants

In 2025, the FDA issued updated guidance emphasizing stricter compliance for synthetic dyes while indicating a preference for natural alternatives. This followed growing scientific evidence linking certain artificial dyes to hyperactivity and behavioral concerns in children, such as a recent systematic review highlighting neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food colorants.^[6] This aligns with growing consumer demand for clean-label products and heightened concerns over the safety of specific artificial colors.

For manufacturers, transitioning to natural colorants presents technical and economic challenges, including stability issues under heat and light and higher sourcing costs. Reliance on synthetic dyes will face growing scrutiny in both safety and market acceptance. High-profile examples, such as the FDA’s review of Red No. 3 in confectionery products, illustrate how regulatory action and consumer pressure converge. Companies that adapt early may gain an advantage in consumer trust and regulatory compliance.

Global Supply Chains and Oversight

The global nature of food supply chains means that U.S. food safety depends as much on international oversight as domestic enforcement. To strengthen accountability abroad, the FDA expanded its use of unannounced inspections at foreign manufacturing facilities in late 2024, covering food and other regulated products intended for the U.S. market.^[7]

This development places added responsibility on importers, who must ensure that suppliers maintain robust preventive controls, testing protocols, and documentation. The change closes long-standing regulatory gaps and reassures consumers that imported products meet the same safety standards as domestic goods.

Recall and Consumer Protection

The FDA has also updated recall guidance to improve coordination and speed of consumer notifications, emphasizing digital platforms and retailer communication. Faster, more transparent recalls are critical to minimizing public health impacts, particularly in outbreaks involving pathogens such as Salmonella or undeclared allergens. These reforms strengthen the consumer protection framework alongside the technical standards described above.

Conclusion

The changes recently introduced by the FDA represent a move toward a food safety system that is more transparent, science-driven, and adaptive. Advances in microbial testing are shifting the focus from reactive detection to predictive measures, whereas new tools are strengthening chemical risk assessments while increasing accountability.

The phasing out outdated identity standards gives manufacturers more flexibility and greater responsibility for accurate labeling. Tighter controls over additives and expanded inspections abroad signal a regulatory environment that prioritizes innovation and consumer protection. Combined with recall modernization efforts, the reforms show an integrated approach to prevention, transparency, and rapid response.

Companies that adapt early to these reforms will be best placed to build resilience, protect public health, and maintain consumer trust in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

References

1. 2025. FSMA Final Rule on Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-requirements-additional-traceability-records-certain-foods [Accessed Sep 14th, 2025].
2. Stevens, E. L., et al. (2022). Use of Whole Genome Sequencing by the Federal Interagency Collaboration for Genomics for Food and Feed Safety in the United States. Journal of Food Protection, 85, 755-772.https://doi.org/10.4315/JFP-21-437. Available: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X22067680
3. 2025. HHS, FDA Announce Chemical Contaminants Transparency Tool for Foods [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-announce-chemical-contaminants-transparency-tool-foods [Accessed Sep 14th, 2025].
4. 2025. Expanded Decision Tree: FDA’s Food Chemical Toxicity Screening Tool [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/food/food-chemical-safety/expanded-decision-tree-fdas-food-chemical-toxicity-screening-tool [Accessed Sep 14th, 2025].
5. 2025. FDA to Revoke 52 Obsolete Standards of Identity for Food Products [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-revoke-52-obsolete-standards-identity-food-products [Accessed Sep 14th, 2025].
6. McCann, M. T., et al. (2023). Neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food colorants in children: A systematic review. Nutrients, 15(14), 3076.  https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15143076 Available: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/14/3076
7. 2025. FDA Announces Expanded Use of Unannounced Inspections at Foreign Manufacturing Facilities [Online]. Available: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-announces-expanded-use-unannounced-inspections-foreign-manufacturing-facilities [Accessed Sep 14th, 2025].

Last Updated: Sep 22, 2025