FDA is soliciting information on the best available and most-up-to-date science on furan including human exposure, why furan forms in certain foods, and the effect of furan on humans at the low levels found in food.

FDA is holding the June 8, 2004, Food Advisory Committee meeting to seek the committee's expert input on the data necessary to fully assess the risk posed by furan.

After the advisory committee meeting, and after evaluating all the available data, FDA will decide on the appropriate next steps, which may include an expanded food survey, studies to address how furan forms in foods, potential strategies to reduce furan levels, and toxicology studies to address mechanisms of toxicity and dose response.

The new data and the method used to measure the furan levels, and questions and answers on the occurrence of furan in foods, are posted on FDA's Web site at cfsan.fda/~lrd/pestadd.html#furan.