News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
August 27, 2025
In vitro study compares bisphenol A and 26 alternatives for their hazard potential using a battery of biological assays; suggests many BPA alternatives are regrettable substitutes; identifies potentially safer alternative; calls for regulating bisphenols as a group
Topics: bioassay, bisphenol A
Reading time: 3 minutes
August 26, 2025
Deep Science Ventures publishes report arguing that ‘pervasive toxicity threatens human and planetary health’; authors review scientific research to create comprehensive overview of effects from human and environmental exposure to chemicals; first key research highlight is Food Packaging Forum’s FCChumon study
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 26, 2025
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety investigates and compares microplastic levels in a set of beverages sold in France; reports highest microplastics per liter in beer and lemonades; paint from glass bottle closures identified as one source
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
August 22, 2025
First global estimate of premature cardiovascular mortality due to phthalates; finds di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) exposure contributed globally to 356,238 deaths in 2018 among people aged 55-64; cardiovascular mortality burden higher in the Asia-Pacific region
Topics: human health, phthalates
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 21, 2025
Extended plastic treaty talks in Geneva, Switzerland conclude without a global agreement; proposed treaty text would not have fulfilled the mandate to end plastic pollution considering the independent scientific evidence; Food Packaging Forum delegation on the ground supported the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty; negotiations to reconvene at a later stage, date and place to be announced
Topics: global plastics treaty, plastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
August 19, 2025
NSF, international product certification and standards organization, announces new certification for mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon (MOAH) free food processing equipment; includes final product testing; NSF launched similar PFAS-free certification in March 2025
Reading time: 1 minute
August 18, 2025
New EU initiative aims to create a single market for waste and secondary raw materials; claims existing regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation ‘cannot unfold their full potential’ without it; public consultation until November 6, 2025
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 15, 2025
European Parliament Research Service assesses implementation of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, finds mixed progress; praises revision of Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation and provisional one substance-one assessment agreement; concerns raised about delayed REACH revision
Reading time: 1 minute
August 12, 2025
Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) updates specifications to add paper cups as items that can be commonly accepted in residential recycling in US and elsewhere; change could expand paper recycling collection and sales; local acceptance still depends on individual programs’ capabilities
Topics: paper and board, recycling
Reading time: 1 minute
August 11, 2025
US Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture open comment period to develop a federal definition for ultra-processed foods (UPFs); data from 2021–2023 show UPFs make up 62 % of American youth's diet and 53 % of adults’ diet
Reading time: 2 minutes
