On Friday, February 17, 2012, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its long-delayed Report (the “Report”) on the potential of dioxins to cause non-cancer related health problems. As anticipated, the Report recommends that people should consume less than 0.7 picograms of dioxin per kilogram of body weight per day (the current average daily dioxin intake for Americans is about 0.8 picograms per kilogram of body weight per day according to EPA). However, EPA notes in a related consumer Fact Sheet, that “current exposure to dioxin does not pose a significant health risk”. In anticipation of the release of the Report, food industry members had expressed concern on what regulatory steps may be taken in light of EPA’s recommended dioxin exposure limit - given much dioxin exposure is food related. However, both FDA and USDA have stated that they do not plan to draft any new dioxin-based regulations on food at this time. Moreover, FDA has noted that "Consumers should eat a balanced diet and follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, and should not avoid any particular foods because of dioxin”. The Report only deals with non-cancerous human health affects, although study data suggests dioxins may be carcinogenic. EPA plans to issue a separate report on the cancer risk posed by dioxins at some point in the future. 

For further information on EPA’s Dioxin Report, please contact Georgia C. Ravitz, Stanley Abramson or Robert G. Edwards. To view the EPA Report, click here.