FDA Expands Hydrogen Peroxide Use for SteraMist iHP in Food Industry.

TOMI Environmental Solutions, a bacteria decontamination and infectious disease control company, announced that the FDA has expanded the use of hydrogen peroxide, broadening the applications of SteraMist iHP in the food industry. The company's flagship product uses patented Binary Ionization Technology to deliver a low-percentage hydrogen peroxide-based fog or mist for indoor air and surface disinfection and decontamination.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the permitted use of hydrogen peroxide as a secondary direct food additive, significantly impacting TOMI Environmental Solutions (NASDAQ: TOMZ). The ruling, published on September 3, 2025, allows the use of food-grade hydrogen peroxide in food production, provided that residues are completely removed before consumption. This regulatory change aligns perfectly with TOMI's SteraMist technology, which uses food-grade hydrogen peroxide and deionized water TOMI Environmental Solutions, Inc. Announces FDA Broadens Permitted Use of Hydrogen Peroxide; Ruling Significantly Expands Potential Application of SteraMist iHP in Food Industry^[1].

The new FDA rule permits the use of hydrogen peroxide that complies with Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) specifications in food production, provided that any trace residues are completely removed before the food reaches consumers. TOMI's SteraMist Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) Solution uses a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide combined with deionized water, both of which are recognized as safe for food use. The SteraMist application method ensures no detectable residues remain on the final food product, aligning with the new FDA requirements .

This regulatory shift creates multiple new vertical opportunities for TOMI, including food safety, transportation, storage, packaging, pre/post-harvest applications, outbreak control, and preventive pathogen reduction. Scientific validation cited from the Journal of Food Protection adds further credibility, demonstrating that hydrogen peroxide residues from ionized treatments decompose rapidly without safety concerns after minimal storage time .

The regulatory change essentially removes a significant barrier to entry for TOMI in the massive food safety market. While the company previously focused on medical facilities, biosafety labs, and other non-food applications, this ruling provides regulatory clarity that could accelerate adoption across the food industry supply chain where contamination prevention carries substantial economic value.

The new FDA rule opens up a significant market opportunity for TOMI Environmental Solutions. The company's SteraMist iHP technology, which uses a low percentage hydrogen peroxide as its only active ingredient, is now well-positioned to serve the food industry. TOMI's Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) solution can be used for indoor air and surface disinfection and decontamination, making it an attractive option for food processors seeking advanced, residue-free technologies to enhance food safety and protect consumers .

The FDA's updated regulation, coupled with the supporting scientific data, provides a clear path for food processors to adopt advanced, residue-free technologies like SteraMist iHP. This opens verticals in food safety, food transportation, food storage, food packaging, direct spraying of food pre- and post-harvest, outbreak control, and preventive pathogen reduction, along with increasing the longevity of all food types.