Chemical contaminants in foods: some analytical considerations.

Data on the incidence and levels of chemical contaminants in foods are needed for continuous assessment of the safety of the food supply and to inform the public about the safety of food. A larger share of the total analytical resource--federal and state government, private sector, and academia--could profitably be directed to collection and publication of data on the occurrence of chemical contaminants in foods. The quest for more data must be accompanied by measures to ensure data reliability and comparability and to estimate the uncertainty of measurements. Research to improve the efficiency of analysis may be the top priority for future methods improvement studies. Analytical chemistry will continue to be an essential factor in assuring a safe food supply and in communicating to the public accurate information and conclusions about food safety.