Food and Drug Laboratory Branch

Chemistry Section

CHEMICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED:

• Chemical contaminants in processed food, drugs, medical devices, cosmetics, and consumer products
• Lead in candy, candy wrappers, and dinnerware
• Metal contaminants in other processed food and cosmetics
• Seafood toxin (domoic acid) in seafood and histamine in fish
• Food preservatives in processed food
• Drug analysis in prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, ethnic medicines, herbal medicines, and nutritional supplements
• Color additives in processed food, drugs, and cosmetics

PRODUCTS TYPICALLY ANALYZED: Processed foods, drugs, herbal products, seafood, cosmetics, consumer products, and ceramic ware

RESEARCH: Emergency response, rapid screening methods, drug analyses (herbal products and ethnic medicines), arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium in consumer products