Overview
Dr. Jessica Cooper advises clients on a wide range of chemical and scientific topics, with a focus on food contact substances, food packaging, and food additives. With more than 12 years of professional experience, Jessica is highly knowledgeable on the chemical data requirements needed to support submissions to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and to establish generally recognized as safe (GRAS) determinations. Jessica leverages her proficiency in evaluating and interpreting scientific data to provide clients with clear advice on conducting migration testing, migration modelling, dietary exposure assessments, and general analytical testing. Jessica’s expertise includes nanomaterials, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), and active and intelligent packaging.
Prior to joining Steptoe, Jessica served at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the Lead Chemist & Master Reviewer, where she provided leadership, strategic direction, and ensured consistency of regulatory policy regarding food additives and food contact substances in FDA's Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS). She led OFAS in providing technical input, advice, and recommendations on migration testing protocols and dietary exposure assessments. Jessica was also the chemistry subject matter expert on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and nanomaterials used in food packaging.
- Jessica Cooper, Ph.D. is a Chemistry Specialist and does not provide legal advice.
- Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, 2008, Chemistry
- M.S., Carnegie Mellon University, Chemistry
- B.S., University of Pittsburgh, Chemistry
Areas of Work
Speaking Engagements
-
“Scientific Input on Food Contact Safety Determinations and FCN Submissions,” Steptoe Food Contact Conference, April 25, 2023
- "Outlook on PFAS in 2023," National Restaurant Association, January 20, 2023
- "Regulatory Update on PFAS in packaging in the US," PFAS: Rules and Risk Assessment, December 19, 2022
- "USA Regulatory Update on PFAS," Food Contact Asia, September 6 and 7, 2022
- "PFAS in Food Contact Paper", CMT's Sustainable Barrier Paper Packaging for Food Contact, June 30, 2021
- "Perspectives on PFAS," Smithers Global Food Contact 2021 Online, June 16, 2021
- "An Update from the US Food and Drug Administration," Food Packaging Law Seminar, September 2019
- "Reevaluation of FDA's Packaging Factors Used to Calculate Consumer Exposure from Food Packaging Materials," ILSI North America 2019 Food Packaging Conference, April 2019
- "US FDA Food Contact Notification (FCN) Program," Plastics Regulations 2018 Conference, December 2018
- "Migration and Exposure Considerations: Food Contact Substances," SOT FDA Colloquia on Emerging Toxicological Science Challenges in Food and Ingredient Safety, May 2017
News & Publications
Client Alerts
State of the States: PFAS Food Packaging Bans and Restrictions
December 29, 2022
By: Joan Baughan, Joseph Dages, Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Carly Rolph
Client Alerts
FDA Proposes to Amend FCN Regulations
January 25, 2022
By: Joan Baughan, Joseph Dages, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Patricia Kinne, Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D., Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Sally Mordi
Client Alerts
Federal Court Upholds FDA's Interpretation of Regulatory Framework for GRAS Substances
October 4, 2021
By: Joseph Dages, Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Patricia Kinne, Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D., Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Sally Mordi
Publications
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
April 29, 2021
Publications
Migration of Food Contact Substances into Dry Foods: A Review
Food Additives and Contaminants
April 27, 2021
Press Releases
Steptoe Expands Chemical & Life Sciences Practice with Jessica Cooper in Washington
December 16, 2020
Events
Seminars & Events
Complimentary Food Contact Conference
April 23, 2024 - April 24, 2024
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph, Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D., Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Patricia Kinne, Tom Gillett, Ruxandra Cana, Daniel Blynn, Anthony G. Hopp, Surya Kundu, Dr. Yan Gu
Keynote Speakers: Dr. Paul Honigfort, Dr. Zhu Lei
Seminars & Events
Complimentary Food Contact Conference
April 25, 2023 - April 26, 2023
Speakers: Joan Baughan, Daniel C. Rubenstein, Joseph Dages, Carly Rolph, Kimberly Cassidy, Ph.D., Jessica Cooper, Ph.D., Patricia Kinne, Glen Rosini, Tom Gillett, Anthony G. Hopp, Ruxandra Cana, Coy Garrison, Abigail Miller, Regulatory Review Chemist, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Sean Fischer, Consumer Safety Officer, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Daniel Felton, Executive Director, AMERIPEN
Noteworthy
- Urbelis, J. H., Cooper, J. R. (2021). Migration of food contact substances into dry foods: A review. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A. 38(6),1044-1073.
- Rice, P. A., Cooper, J., Koh-Fallet, S., Kabadi, S. V. (2021). Comparative analysis of the physicochemical, toxicokinetic, and toxiocological properties of ether-PFAS. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.422(2).
- Rice, P. A., Cooper, J., Pfeil, M., and Swain, M. “Evaluation of Migration Into Food, Human Health Effects, and Environmental Effects of Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances Used in Food Contact Applications.” In Reference Module in Food Sciences. Elsevier. 2017
- Neal-Kluever, Cooper, J. Zebovitz, T., Butts, K. (2014). Ten-year retrospective assessment of the performance of the Food Contact Notification (FCN) programme. Food Additives & Contaminates: Part A, 32 (2), 261-270.
Previous Employment
- Review Chemist, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2011-2017
- Lead Chemist & Master Reviewer, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2017–2021