News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
August 26, 2019
Keller and Heckman article discusses existing regulations related to non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); compares EU and U.S. approaches, outlines risk assessment steps
Topics: NIAS, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 26, 2019
U.S. restaurant chain Chipotle issues statement following study finding per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in its biodegradable packaging; stricter total fluorine limits set for compostability certificate
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
August 23, 2019
Scientists investigate in vitro toxicity and chemical composition of plastic consumer products made of different polymers; high baseline toxicity of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics; food contact status does not necessarily imply lower toxicity
Topics: in vitro, toxicity testing
Reading time: 4 minutes
August 22, 2019
Microplastics do not currently pose human health risk in drinking water according to World Health Organization; studies however seen as limited and often unreliable; calls for standardization of analysis methods and minimization of plastic pollution
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 22, 2019
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment publishes opinion supporting tolerable weekly intake levels for PFOS and PFOA developed by European Food Safety Authority; reconfirms earlier 2008 statement that consumer health risk in Germany exists
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
August 22, 2019
UN Environment hosts first annual conference week focusing on plastic pollution on November 11-15, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand; themed days to focus on different discussion topics; event aims to become key exchange platform on the issue
Topics: plastics
Reading time: 1 minute
August 21, 2019
U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues letter of non-objection to Envision Plastics for use of recycled high density polyethylene waste plastic collected from rivers in food contact articles
Reading time: 1 minute
August 21, 2019
Report to be published by end of 2020 will offer tools to help compare sustainability trade-offs, discourage use of hazardous chemicals; OECD has multiple other plastics-related projects currently underway
Reading time: 1 minute
August 21, 2019
Researchers investigate urinary concentrations of bisphenols A, S, and F in relation to body mass in children and adolescents; results suggest correlation with obesity; authors recommend caution when interpreting results, call for future monitoring
Reading time: 1 minute
August 20, 2019
International convention announces multi-stakeholder partnership to prevent and improve management of plastic waste, particularly for single-use plastics; focuses on better design of plastics to increase durability, re-usability, avoid hazardous substances
Topics: plastics
Reading time: 1 minute
