This booklet lists action levels established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for poisonous or deleterious substances in human food and animal feed. Action levels for poisonous or deleterious substances are established by the FDA to control levels of contaminants in human food and animal feed.
Action levels and tolerances are established based on the unavoidability of the poisonous or deleterious substances and do not represent permissible levels of contaminantion where it is avoidable. The blending of a food or feed containing a substance in excess of an action level or tolerance with another food or feed is not permitted, and the final product resulting from blending is unlawful, regardless of the level of the contaminant.
Action levels and tolerances represent limits at or above which FDA will take legal action to remove products from the market. Where no established action level or tolerance exists, FDA may take legal action against the product at the minimal detectable level of the contaminant.
The action levels are established and revised according to criteria specified in Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 109 and 509 and are revoked when a regulation establishing a tolerance for the same substance and use becomes effective.
This booklet is arranged by substance, with the applicable human food and animal feed products listed therein. An index is located at the front of this booklet.
This list is current as of August, 2000. Notices will be published in the Federal Register as new action levels are established or as existing action levels are revised or revoked. It is the responsibility of the user of the list to keep up to date on changes in the action levels.
Single copies of this booklet are available from:
Industry Activities Staff (HFS-565)
CFSAN/FDA
200 C Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20204
Telephone (202) 205-5251
Copies of the Compliance Policy Guides (CPG) referenced in the action level list may be purchased from:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone (703) 605-6000
Order number: PB97 915 400
FDA's Compliance Policy Guides are accessible via the Internet:
http://www.fda.gov.
Commodity | Action Level (ppb) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal Feeds | ||
Corn and peanut products intended for finishing (i.e., feedlot) beef cattle | 300 | CPG 683.100 |
Cottonseed meal intended for beef, cattle, swine, or poultry (regardless of age or breeding status) | 300 | CPG 683.100 |
Corn and peanut products intended for finishing swine of 100 pounds or greater | 200 | CPG 683.100 |
Corn and peanut products intended for breeding beef cattle, breeding swine, or mature poultry | 100 | CPG 683.100 |
Corn, peanut products, and other animal feeds and feed ingredients but excluding cottonseed meal, intended for immature animals | 20 | CPG 683.100 |
Corn, peanut products, cottonseed meal, and other animal feed ingredients intended for dairy animals, for animal species or uses not specified above, or when the intended use is not known | 20 | CPG 683.100 |
Brazil nuts | 20 | CPG 570.200 |
Foods | 20 | CPG 555.400 |
Milk | 0.5 (aflatoxin M1) | CPG 527.400 |
Peanuts and Peanut products | 20 | CPG 570.375 |
Pistachio nuts | 20 | CPG 570.500 |
Commoditya | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Alfalfa | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Animal feed, processed | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Artichokes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Asparagus | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Bananas | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Beets (garden and sugar) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Beet tops (garden and sugar) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Broccoli | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Brussel sprouts | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Bulb vegetables | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Cabbage | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Carrots | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Cauliflower | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Cereal grains (except buckwheat, millet, teosinte, and wild rice) | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Celery | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Clover | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Collards | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Cowpea hay | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Cucumbers | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggplant | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggs | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Endive (escarole) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Fats and oils (animal feed) | 0.3 | CPG 575.100 |
Figs | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Fish | 0.3 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Forage, fodder and straw of cereal grains (except those of millet, teosinte, and wild rice) | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Grapefruit | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Hay | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Horseradish | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Kale | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Kohlrabi | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Legume vegetables (except guar, jackbeans, lablab beans, and lentils) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Lemons | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Lespedeza | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Lettuce | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Limes | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Mangoes | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Melons | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Milk | 0.3 (fat basis) | CPG 575.100 |
Mustard greens | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Oranges | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Parsnips | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Pea hay | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Peaches | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Peanuts | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Peanut hay | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Peppers | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Pimentos | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Pineapple | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Pome fruits (except crabapples and loquats) | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Potatoes | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Radishes | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Radish tops | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Rutabagas | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Salsify roots | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Salsify tops | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Small fruits and berries | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Soybean hay | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Spinach | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Squash | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw, Damson, Japanese plums, and peaches) | 0.03 | CPG 575.100 |
Sugarbeet pulp (animal feed) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Sweet potatoes | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Swiss chard | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Tangerines | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Tomatoes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnips | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnip tops | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Commoditya | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal feed, processed | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Apples | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Asparagus | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Avocadoes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Beans | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables (except broccoli raab, and rape greens) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Celery | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Carrots | 0.3 | CPG 575.100 |
Cereal grains (except buckwheat, millet, popcorn, teosinte, and wild rice) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Citrus fruits | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Cocoa beans | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Cucurbit vegetables (except Balsam pears, Chinese waxgourds, gherkins, and gourds) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggplant | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggs | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Endive | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Figs | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Frog legs (edible portion) | 0.3 | CPG 575.100 |
Guavas | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Hays (animal feed) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Lettuce | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Mangoes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Milk | 0.3 (fat basis) | CPG 575.100 |
Okra | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Onions | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Paprika | 1.0 | CPG 575.100 |
Pears | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Peas | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Pecans | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Peppers | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Pineapples | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Quinces | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Rabbits | 0.3 (fat basis)b | CPG 575.100 |
Root and tuber vegetables (except carrots) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Small fruits and berries | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Spinach | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Swiss chard | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw, Damson, and Japanese plums) | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Tomatoes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnip Greens | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
The figures listed are for residues of total BHC. However, in adding amounts of individual isomers, do not count alpha, gamma, or delta BHC at a level below 0.02 ppm in milk and rabbits, and 0.01 ppm for all other commodities listed. Do not count beta BHC at a level below 0.05 ppm for milk and rabbits, and 0.02 ppm for all other commodities listed.
(b) For rabbits that contain insufficient fat to conduct an analysis on a fat basis, analyze the rabbits on a whole product basis (edible portion) and use 0.1 ppm, the limit of determination, as the action level.
Commodity | Action Level (µg/mL leaching solution) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Pottery (ceramics) | ||
Flatware (average of 6 units) | 0.5 | CPG 545.400 |
Small hollowware (any 1 of 6 units) | 0.5 | CPG 545.400 |
Large hollowware (any 1 of 6 units) | 0.25 | CPG 545.400 |
Commoditya | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal fat, rendered | 0.3 | CPG 575.100 |
Animal feed, processed | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Asparagus | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Bananas | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Beans | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Beets (with or without tops) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Beet greens | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables (except broccoli raab, Chinese mustard cabbage, and rape greens) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Carrots | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Celery | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Citrus fruits | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Corn | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Cucumbers | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggplant | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Fish | 0.3 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Lettuce | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Melons | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Okra | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Onions | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Papayas | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Parsnips | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Peanuts | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Peas | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Peppers | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Pineapple | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Pome fruits (except crabapples and loquats) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Potatoes | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Radishes (with or without tops) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Radish tops | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Rutabagas (with or without tops) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Rutabaga tops | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Small fruits and berries (except cranberries, currants, elderberries, gooseberries, and olallie berries) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Spinach | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Squash | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Stone fruits (except Chicasaw, Damson, and Japanese plums) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Sweet potatoes | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Swiss chard | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Tomatoes | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnips (with or without tops) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnip greens | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
The listed action levels are for residues of chlordane, including cis- and trans-chlordane, cis- and trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-chlordene, and chlordene. Levels of individual components must be quantitated at 0.02 ppm or above and confirmed in order to be added into the "chlordane" total value.
The GLC pattern of the residue determines which reference standard(s) will be used for quantitation. If the residue pattern matches that of technical chlordane, quantitate against a technical chlordane reference standard. If the residue consists of identifiable individual components (i.e., cis- and trans-chlordane, cis- and trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-chlordene, and chlordene), quantitate individual components against their respective standards. Sum individual values to obtain the total "chlordane" level. Do not include levels of heptachlor epoxide in the summation.
Commodity | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Crabmeat | 0.4 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Fish and shellfish | 0.3 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
(1,1-Bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2,-trichloroethanol)
(Previously listed as "Kelthane," the trade name for dicofol)
Commodity | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal feed, processed | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Commoditya | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal feed, processed | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Artichokes | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Asparagus | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Avocadoes | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Beets (roots and tops) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables (except broccoli raab, Chinese mustard cabbage, and rape greens) | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Carrots | 3 | CPG 575.100 |
Cereal grains (except buckwheat, fresh sweetcorn, millet, popcorn, teosinte, and wild rice) | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Celery | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Citrus fruits | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Cocoa beans | 1 | CPG 575.100 |
Corn, fresh sweet | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Cottonseed | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Cucumbers | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggplant | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggs | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Endive (escarole) | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Fish | 5 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Grapes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Guavas | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Hay | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Hops | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Legume vegetables (except guar, jackbeans, lablab beans, and lentils) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Lettuce | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Mangoes | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Melons | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Milk | 1.25 (fat basis) | CPG 575.100 |
Mushrooms | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Okra | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Onions (dry bulb) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Papayas | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Parsnips (roots and tops) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Peanuts | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Peppermint hay | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Peppermint oil | 1 | CPG 575.100 |
Peppers | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Pineapples | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Pome fruits (except crabapples and loquats) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Potatoes | 1 | CPG 575.100 |
Radishes (roots and tops) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Rutabagas (roots and tops) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Small fruits and berries (except elderberries, grapes and olallie berries) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Soybean oil (crude) | 1 | CPG 575.100 |
Spearmint hay | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Spearmint oil | 1 | CPG 575.100 |
Spinach | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Squash | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Stone fruits (except Chickasaw, Damson, and Japanese plums) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
Sweet potatoes | 1 | CPG 575.100 |
Swiss chard | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Tomatoes | 0.05 | CPG 575.100 |
Tomato pomance | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnips (roots and tops) | 0.2 | CPG 575.100 |
The listed action levels are for residues of the above pesticides individually, or in combination. However, in adding amounts of DDT, DDE and TDE, do not count any of the three found below 0.02 ppm for non-fatty food, and 0.2 ppm for fish, eggs, and grains.
Commodity | Action Level (ppb) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Barley malt | 10 | CPG 578.500 |
Malt beverages | 5 | CPG 510.600 |
Commoditya | Action Level (ppb) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Grain products, intermediate (milled), must be cooked prior to consumption | 150 | CPG 575.100 |
Grain products, ready-to-eat (cooked), require no cooking prior to consumption | 30 | CPG 575.100 |
Honey, ready-to-eat (will not undergo further processing prior to consumption) | 30 | CPG 575.100 |
Fish | 0.3 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Fruiting vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Grass forage, fodder, and hay | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Leafy vegetables (except Brassica) | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Legume vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Milk | 0.1 (fat basis) | CPG 575.100 |
Nongrass animal feeds | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Peanuts | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Pineapple | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Commoditya | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal feed, processed | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Artichokes | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Asparagus | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Brassica (cole) leafy vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Bulb vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Cereal grains | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Citrus fruits | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Cottonseed | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Cucurbit vegetables | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggs | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Figs | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Fish | 0.3 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Fruiting vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Grass forage, fodder, and hay | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Leafy vegetables (except Brassica) | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Legume vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Milk | 0.1 (fat basis) | CPG 575.100 |
Nongrass animal feeds | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Peanuts | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Pineapple | 0.02 | CPG 575.100 |
Pome fruits | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Rabbit | 0.2 (fat basis)b | CPG 575.100 |
Root and tuber vegetables | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Salsify tops | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Small fruits and berries | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Stone fruits | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
Sugarcane | 0.01 | CPG 575.100 |
The listed figures are for residues of the pesticide and its metabolite individually or in combination. However, do not count heptachlor or heptachlor epoxide found at a level below 0.1 ppm for fish, 0.05 ppm (fat basis) for milk, and 0.01 ppm for nonfatty foods.
(b) For rabbits that contain insufficient fat to conduct an analysis on a fat basis, analyze the rabbits on a whole product basis (edible portion) and, assuming 10 percent fat content, use 0.02 ppm as the action level.
Commodity | Action Level (µg/ml leaching solution) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Ceramicware | ||
Flatware (average of 6 units) | 3.0 | CPG 545.450 |
Small hollowware (other than cups and mugs) (any 1 of 6 units) | 2.0 | CPG 545.450 |
Large hollowware (other than pitchers) (any 1 of 6 units) | 1.0 | CPG 545.450 |
Cups and mugs (any 1 of 6 units) | 0.5 | CPG 545.450 |
Pitchers (any 1 of 6 units) | 0.5 | CPG 545.450 |
Silver-plated hollowware | ||
Product intended for use by adults (average of 6 units) | 7 | CPG 545.500 |
Product intended for use by infants and children (any 1 of 6 units) | 0.5 | CPG 545.500 |
Commodity | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Animal feed, processed | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Artichokes | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Barley | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Beans | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Citrus fruit(a) | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Cocoa beans, whole raw bean | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Corn, fresh sweet | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Corn | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Eggs | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Endive | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Figs | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Hay | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Milk | 0.3 (fat basis) | CPG 575.100 |
Oats | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Peas | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Rice | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Root vegetablesa,b | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Rye | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Small fruitsa,b | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Sorghum (milo) | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
Turnip greens | 0.5 | CPG 575.100 |
Wheat | 0.1 | CPG 575.100 |
(b) Other than those commodities specified in 40 CFR 180.133.
Commodity | Action Level | Reference |
---|---|---|
Fish, shellfish, crustaceans, other aquatic animals (fresh, frozen or processed) | 1 ppm methyl mercury in edible portion | CPG 540.600 |
Wheat (pink kernels only) | 1 ppm on pink kernels and an average of 10 or more pink kernels/500 g | CPG 578.400 |
Commodity | Action Level (%) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Imported brandy | 0.35 | CPG 510.200 |
Commodity | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Fish | 0.1 (edible portion) | CPG 575.100 |
Commodity | Action Level (ppb) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Rubber baby bottle nipples | 10 | CPG 500.450 |
Commodity | Action Level | Reference |
---|---|---|
Clams, mussels, oysters (fresh, frozen, and canned) |
80 µg/100 g meat | CPG 540.250 |
Commodity | Action Level (ppm) | Reference |
---|---|---|
Red meat | 3 (fat basis) | CPG 565.200 |
Industry Activities Staff Booklet: August 2000
Hypertext updated by ear/dms 2001-AUG-02