FCCprio List
A prioritized list of food contact chemicals to phase out and avoid based on their hazard properties and exposure potential.
About FCCprio
Foodware and food packaging materials are a source of human exposure to chemicals because chemicals can transfer (or migrate) from the packaging into the food. Some of these food contact chemicals (FCCs) are of concern due to their known hazardous properties (e.g., bisphenols and phthalates). However, systematic approaches have not been applied to identify and prioritize the hazards of all known FCCs. To address this, the Food Contact Chemicals Priority (FCCprio) List was compiled to systematically identify and prioritize FCCs for phase-out and avoidance based on their hazard properties and exposure potential. It identifies and prioritizes 1’222 hazardous chemicals across four tiers. It can be freely downloaded as an Excel file.
Methodology
The FCCprio List was developed by slightly modifying the methodology used in the PlastChem report. Specifically, it includes only harmonized hazard classifications and focuses on human health hazards, given their primary relevance for exposure through food contact materials (FCMs).
Publicly available and officially recognized hazard information for all known FCCs was retrieved. Using these data, FCCs were prioritized and placed on the FCCprio List if they have at least one of the following hazards: persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity upon repeated exposure, and/or endocrine disruption. The prioritized FCCs were subsequently ranked into four tiers based on their evidence for human exposure via food contact materials, as reported in the FCChumon, FCCmigex, and FCCdb databases. It will be periodically updated as additional information about existing and novel FCCs becomes available.
Summary results
In total, 1’222 FCCs were identified as hazardous based on publicly available, harmonized data and placed on the FCCprio List. They were then each ranked based on their relevance for human exposure from FCMs. Tiers 1 to 4 contain 94, 264, 224, and 640 FCCs, respectively. Tier 1 chemicals have the highest evidence for human exposure from FCMs and include, for example, phthalates, metals and metalloids, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Of the 15’159 known FCCs, 12’317 (81%) currently lack any relevant hazard data and could not be considered for prioritization.
Citation
Food Contact Chemicals Priority (FCCprio) List
Wiesinger, H., Parkinson, L.V., Geueke, B., Boucher, J.M., Cabane, E., Zimmermann L., and Muncke J.
2026, Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14881617
Funding
This work was carried out with the Food Packaging Forum’s own resources from unrestricted donations. All FPF funding sources are listed on our funding page.
Disclaimer
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(Adapted from the LTER Network data access policy.)
