News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
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
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
