(Washington, D.C., July 9, 2026, USDA) — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced an updated Memorandum of Understanding (PDF Version) to reaffirm their shared commitment to protecting consumers from heavy metals and other contaminants in food.
For decades, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have coordinated through the National Residue Program to monitor and regulate meat, poultry, and egg products. This updated MOU strengthens collaboration under this program and adopts new methods to better detect and address potential risks.
“American farmers, ranchers, and producers grow and raise the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the world. Together with our partners at HHS and EPA, we are strengthening the health of American families and giving consumers confidence in the safety of our food supply,” said Secretary Rollins. “This new MOU modernizes how our agencies work together and streamlines the way we share information, coordinates scientific expertise, and improves how we detect and address potential risks. This is the Trump Administration improving the way our government works so we can better protect the American people and ensure the safety of our food supply, which is truly a national security and health priority.
“Protecting Americans from harmful contaminants in food is a core priority of the Trump Administration,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “We are strengthening oversight, improving detection, and coordinating across the federal government to reduce exposure to heavy metals and other toxins. I appreciate Secretary Rollins and Administrator Zeldin for their leadership as we work together to protect American families and Make America Healthy Again.”
“At the Trump EPA, we are excited to help advance new policies to Make America Healthy Again. Today’s announcement ensures a safer food supply by supporting new testing methods to reduce metal residues in produce, meat, and, for the first time ever, processed foods,” said Administrator Zeldin. “We want Americans to feel confident the food on their plate has been held to the highest standards of safety. It’s an honor to serve on the MAHA Commission, led by Secretary Kennedy, working with great partners like Secretary Rollins to pave the way for a healthier nation for generations to come.”
As part of this effort, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has already taken steps to modernize monitoring for heavy metals in foods by implementing a new, streamlined laboratory method to measure the quantity of 18 heavy metals at extremely low levels. If elevated or unusual levels are detected, FSIS conducts science-based assessments to determine when the agency should take action to keep risky products out of the food supply. Additionally, FSIS will also expand its surveillance for heavy metals to include processed foods, such as sausages and ready-to-eat meals, which combine ingredients from multiple sources.
The data collected by FSIS shows heavy metal contamination of raw meat and poultry products is extremely rare and FSIS will continue to publish results of this surveillance testing online, ensuring transparency for industry and consumers.
This updated MOU further advances efforts to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) and builds on the MAHA Report’s goal of reducing children’s exposure to heavy metals, PFAS, and other harmful contaminants.
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Press release provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture