News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
October 15, 2024
Research demonstrates widescale environmental microplastic contamination and human exposure, effects on all levels of biological organizations, and emerging evidence of negative human health impacts; review’s authors foresee data gaps to be closed within next ten years but call for immediate policy action based on precautionary principle to minimize unintended consequences
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 10, 2024
Analysis of black plastic household products in the US finds flame retardants in 85% of bromine-positive samples; including food contact kitchen utensils and toys; authors link e-waste as a source; call for ban of harmful chemical additives through the Plastics Treaty
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 8, 2024
Scientific publication outlines FitNESS 2.0 project, a free open-source e-learning platform featuring courses on food packaging; developed through an ongoing collaboration between 11 European research institutions; project builds learning materials for students and industry professionals
Topics: education, food packaging
Reading time: 1 minute
October 7, 2024
Targeted and non-targeted analysis on reusable plastic drinking water finds diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) to migrate from 22 plastic bottle types after extensive dishwashing; detects hundreds of unidentifiable chemicals in food simulants; calls for more safety data on plastic chemicals and to ban DIBP in plastic products
Topics: EU, phthalates
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 2, 2024
Reports by civil society organizations analyze current state of reuse in Europe; survey of 90 reuse solutions finds sector is growing but needs further regulatory incentives to compete with single-use alternatives; urges stakeholders to collaborate to overcome transition cost hurdles; second report compares costs of single-use packaging and reuse systems; says switching to reuse is beneficial when including environmental costs
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 27, 2024
Japanese ministries propose ban on 138 PFOA-related substances; will be classified as class I compounds; public consultation closes on October 9, 2024, ban will come into force on January 10, 2025; authorities revise testing standards, introduce overall migration test; takes effect in 2025
Reading time: 1 minute
September 26, 2024
Report analyzes Indian salt and sugar brands; finds microplastics in all samples; another report addresses plastic waste challenges; suggests stronger regulations and recycling and reuse efforts
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 25, 2024
Using data from over 50,000 municipalities, with machine learning to fill gaps, global model estimates 52 million tons of plastic were released into unmanaged waste systems in 2020; report led by Arnika investigates effects of waste incineration on the environment and human health
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 24, 2024
In a peer-reviewed article, researchers from the Food Packaging Forum identify and discuss nearly 200 potential breast carcinogens detected in food packaging and other food contact materials (FCMs) on the market; when limited to migration studies published in 2020-22, 76 potential and confirmed mammary carcinogens were measured; including in FCMs from EU, US, China, and elsewhere
Topics: cancer, regulation
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 19, 2024
Umbrella review analyzes 52 systematic reviews and 759 meta-analyses on plastic-associated chemicals and human health; bisphenols, phthalates, flame retardants, and PFAS were linked to adverse health effects; finds ties to reproductive issues, neurodevelopmental disorders, metabolic conditions, and cancers; research gaps remain, particularly microplastics and newer chemical groups
Topics: bisphenols, chemical exposure, chemical safety, health, PCB, PFAS, plastics, reproductive health
Reading time: 3 minutes
