American Chemistry Council (ACC) submits petition to California’s supreme court challenging listing of diisononyl phthalate (DINP); highest court has at least 60 days to decide on petition and make final ruling
Study investigates fetal exposure to bisphenols
Study of 60 pregnant women finds frequent and high concentrations of bisphenols in maternal plasma, cord plasma, placenta
Organizations sue US FDA over failure to react on phthalates in FCMs
Earthjustice files case in a federal court on behalf of eight civil society organizations; calls on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to come to a final decision on a petition filed in 2016 within 60 days; petition argues safe use of phthalates can no longer be proven and calls for a ban in all food contact materials (FCMs)
Test finds majority of FCAs contain DEHP
Swedish Chemicals Agency (KEMI) finds endocrine disrupting chemical bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in 48 of 60 (80%) of tested paper/board food packaging items; detects also dibutylphthalat (DBP) and Bisphenol A (BPA)
Polystyrene functional barrier in colored FCMs
US FDA researchers publish new study showing solvent dyes migrating from colored polystyrene bowls into food simulants
Reduction of single-use plastics
Food service company aims to reduce use of plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, bags
Formaldehyde and melamine migration from tableware
Italian scientists investigate migration of formaldehyde and melamine from children’s tableware made of melaware and other amino resins; specific and overall migration limits exceeded in some products; aging increases migration; migration cannot be predicted from product’s appearance
FPF Workshop 2020: FPF year in review
Martin Scheringer reviews the Food Packaging Forum’s work in 2020; discusses scientific consensus statement on food contact chemicals (FCCs) and health, ongoing projects aiming to understand contribution of FCC exposure to chronic diseases of public health concern
New database on harmful effects of chemicals
National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and Danish Environmental Protection Agency launch database containing over 600,000 chemical structures and (Q)SAR data on potential associated harmful effects
EU Parliament approves new waste policy
EU Parliament votes in favor of waste legislation package; 2030 recycling targets set at 60% for municipal waste and 70% for packaging; manufacturers to make information on SVHC content in products available to public