Researchers led by the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) publish paper identifying 388 chemicals intentionally used in food contact materials (FCMs) that are harmful according to the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; 127 of these chemicals of concern have been measured to be present in FCMs including 30 monomers and 122 carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) chemicals
European Council adopts position on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
Maintains criteria that all packaging must be recyclable; introduces requirement for separate waste collection; tasks Commission with preparing a report on substances of concern and their impact on recycling, reuse, and chemical safety
PFAS alternatives for paper food packaging
Article in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety discusses alternatives for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in paper food packaging; considers lamination with waxes and polymer films, alternative surface sizing and coatings; views finding cost-effective, fully biodegradable, and environmentally friendly alternatives challenging
Safety of dishes made of wheat pulp or wood
Scientists analyze volatile compounds migrating from single-use dishes made of wheat pulp or wood; products considered safe for food contact use with respect to volatiles’ migration; migration of non-volatile substances and safety of high-temperature applications requires further study
Melamine migration above EU limits in some children’s cups
Danish Consumer Council reports melamine migration from five of eight tested children’s cups are above legal limits; migration tests undertaken after cups were washed 20 times and filled with a hot drink to simulate use; melamine classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans in the EU
Conference on EDCs in the European Union
EU Commission holds public conference on endocrine disrupting chemicals regulation, shares information on impact assessment and next steps
Third roundtable meeting on endocrine disruptors
EDC roadmap, impact assessment, public consultation and on-going studies discussed by members of the European Commission and Parliament
Alternatives to perfluorinated chemicals
New study reviews environmental releases, persistence and exposure of perfluorinated chemical alternatives, looks at 20 fluorinated substances including eight used in FCMs
EU reviews metal limits in ceramic and glass FCMs
European Commission initiative to consider lowering migration limits for lead, cadmium, other heavy metals in ceramic, glass, and enamel food contact materials; feedback on roadmap open until June 26, 2019, full public consultation to follow
Experts call for ban of new biodegradability promoting additives
Food packaging experts call for banning a new group of biodegradability promoting additives used in food packaging, cite concerns over uncontrollable degradation, migration of and human exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals; finds them distracting from real solutions such as new business models incorporating reuse