News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
April 16, 2024
U.S. Food and Drug Administration implements new rule on food contact authorization; aimed at enhancing food chemical safety administrative processes; enables administration to assess substances beyond safety considerations; effective on May 21, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute
April 15, 2024
Literature review of micro- and nano(bio)plastics research; scrutinizes the complexities of micro- and nano(bio)plastics degradation and their toxicological effects; highlights gaps in long-term impact studies and interactions with environmental conditions; challenges the assumption that "biodegradable" means complete degradation; calls for greater transparency in research practices to bolster collective understanding
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 11, 2024
Two studies investigate micro- and nanoplastics measured in foods; review the range of reported values and diversity of study methods; make suggestions to standardize research methodologies; one study outlines additional standards the micro – nanoplastics research community needs to develop in order to assist regulators
Topics: microplastics, nanoplastics
Reading time: 4 minutes
April 5, 2024
Study provides an in-depth look at microplastics in the male reproductive system, analyzes human and mouse samples to chart concentrations and polymer types; finds microplastics in all human testes samples and majority of semen samples; larger plastic particles may get trapped in testis, leading to higher concentrations; identifies correlation between urbanization, home-cooked meals, and body scrub used to microplastics concentration
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 4, 2024
Scientists’ Coalition responds to zero draft in preparation for the 4th negotiating meeting (INC-4) on the global treaty to prevent plastic pollution; meeting in Ottawa, Canada from April 23 – 29, 2024; offer evidence- and science-based commentary; highlight the importance of addressing plastic pollution holistically
Reading time: 0 minutes
April 3, 2024
European Environment Agency finds transition to circular economy in Europe is lacking in various areas; calls for fundamental change in consumption and resource usage; predicts low likelihood of reaching 2030 targets
Topics: circular economy, EU
Reading time: 1 minute
April 2, 2024
Fact sheet from Scientists’ Coalition explains the impacts of plastics on climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution; highlights how the plastics treaty and other multilateral environmental agreements can address the triple planetary crisis
Reading time: 0 minutes
March 28, 2024
Requires environmental claims to be verified by a third-party; addresses carbon offsetting schemes; disregards green claims on hazardous substances; vote will be followed up by new Parliament after elections in June
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 25, 2024
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comments to the European Commission on the restriction of bisphenol A in food contact materials; supports the proposed regulation; advocates for shorter transition periods, broader coverage, and development of more advanced detection methods
Topics: bisphenol A, EFSA
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 22, 2024
Two studies investigating chemicals from retail plastic food contact articles find considerable variability in complexity, with subsequent effects on cell-based tests of hormone disruption; many more chemicals measured from PVC and polyurethane than other polymers though the chemical mixtures from majority of the plastic samples are hormone disrupting; further evidence of PVC and PUR can interfere with GPCR-based cell communication
Reading time: 3 minutes
