News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
November 8, 2024
Describes the function and properties of food packaging and the pros and cons of the different food contact materials in fulfilling them; calls for future research to investigate how repeated use affects the packaging’s mechanical performance and thermal stability
Topics: circular economy, reuse
Reading time: 3 minutes
November 7, 2024
On October 28, 2024, the Food Packaging Forum, in collaboration with ETH Zürich, held the first Swiss Symposium on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs); throughout the day, leading experts shared the history of EDC research, as well as ongoing efforts to understand hazards and exposures associated with EDCs
Topics: Endocrine Disruptors
Reading time: 5 minutes
October 24, 2024
Article connects the dots between two global challenges: plastics and ultra-processed foods (UPFs); authors highlight how plastics have enabled the mass production of low-cost UPFs, leading to widespread health and environmental harms; emphasize that thousands of chemicals from plastic packaging migrate into food, many of which are hazardous and inadequately tested; urge joint efforts to tackle both issues, suggesting that addressing plastics and UPFs together could lead to more effective solutions
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 24, 2024
Scientists compile database on chemical features associated with plastic food packaging; comprises 2101 features compiled from scientific literature and own non-targeted analysis; of the 2101, 30% were found to migrate from 106 food packaging samples and approximately 78% detected in human serum samples
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 23, 2024
Commentary encourages scientists to integrate gender into their research on chemical pollution; study develops metric to interpret population biomonitoring data and assess potential health risks from multiple chemical exposure; can be used to compare population groups, including vulnerable ones
Topics: biomonitoring
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 22, 2024
Australian Government proposes packaging regulation reform; options are, (i) strengthening existing frameworks, (ii) imposing mandatory national standards, or (iii) implementing an extended producer responsibility scheme; aims to ban problematic chemicals and materials; public feedback until October 28, 2024; Australian state of New South Wales also consulting on a plastics plan until November 4, 2024
Reading time: 5 minutes
October 21, 2024
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announces significant changes to its Human Foods Program, aiming to streamline its operations and modernize field activities; changes reflect a renewed focus on transparency, efficiency, and consumer safety in food regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 18, 2024
European Council adopts updated CLP regulation; introduces new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors, PBT, and vPvB substance; aims to enhance chemical safety by sharing hazard classifications across regulations; includes new provisions for digital labeling and refill station requirements
Reading time: 1 minute
October 17, 2024
Five studies on microplastic presence and effects on central nervous system (CNS) and reproductive organs; study finds microplastics of some but not all polymer types enter human CNS, especially after blood-brain barrier impairment; review concludes microplastics induce neurotoxicity; scientists demonstrate presence of microplastics in female reproductive tissue and male para-tumor and tumor prostate samples; associate microplastic presence with sperm dysfunction
Reading time: 5 minutes
October 16, 2024
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hosts public meeting to discuss ways to improve post-market assessment process for chemicals in food; stakeholders, including researchers, advocates, and industry representatives, shared perspectives on transparency, safety, and the need for systematic evaluation; consultation open until December 6, 2024
Reading time: 2 minutes
