News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
July 23, 2020
New scientific reports summarize implications of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) for human health and implications for economics and policy; call for ‘urgent action to reduce exposure to EDCs’
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 23, 2020
Scientists review chemical analytical approaches for food contaminants originating from packaging, including active packaging and novel biopolymers; call for thorough characterization of substances migrating from active packaging, including impurities, auxiliary compounds, potential biotransformation products
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 23, 2020
Scientists review three main routes for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production, including microbiological, enzymatic, chemical; microbiological and chemical routes most favorable for scaling-up; remaining high costs compared to fossil-based plastics necessitate search for cheaper feedstocks, optimization of production efficiencies
Topics: bioplastics, polyhydroxyalkanoates
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 23, 2020
Scientists measure content and migration of inorganic elements from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA); report higher levels in PHA produced from municipal waste and wastewater sludge fractions compared to PHA produced from fruit wastes; in all cases migration below set migration limits
Reading time: 1 minute
July 23, 2020
Scientists screen PFAS in paper and board packaging, observe decreasing trend in European samples; find opposite migratory behavior of short and long chain PFAS into ethanolic food simulants, highlight significant underestimation of migration to foodstuffs when using Tenax® food simulant
Topics: fluorinated substances, migration
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 21, 2020
Leaked draft version developed by DG Environment and commented on by DG Grow; proposed mixture assessment factor not supported by DG Grow, overall wording requested to be ‘less definitive and committing’; NGOs concerned revisions could place public health behind corporate interests
Topics: chemicals strategy, European Commission
Reading time: 3 minutes
July 21, 2020
Non-governmental organization Baltic Environmental Forum Germany (BEF) publishes brochure providing general introduction and overview of hazardous chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs), common material types, tips for reducing exposure
Reading time: 1 minute
July 21, 2020
Author Rick Smith describes experiment carried out on himself with University of Rochester to identify uptake of microplastics in his diet; article discusses unknowns and concerns held by scientific experts, criticizes increased plastic use during COVID-19 pandemic
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 21, 2020
European Commission publishes roadmap, inception impact assessment; initiative aims to require companies to substantiate environmental footprint claims made about their products or services, reduce ‘greenwashing’; open for feedback until August 31, 2020
Reading time: 1 minute
July 21, 2020
Latest episode of podcast produced by Zero Waste Norway features Jane Muncke from the Food Packaging Forum; emphasizes that reusable food containers can be safely cleaned and sanitized in food establishments, no reason to rely solely on single-use items
Reading time: 1 minute
