News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
October 6, 2023
Standard aims at improving chemical safety of reusable food contact articles and reducing plastic waste; involves rigorous testing and transparency of ingredients used in the packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 4, 2023
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) case studies favor reusable over single-use packaging in reducing environmental impacts; consumer behavior, washing practices significant factor in footprint of reusables; manufacturing a significant factor for single-use; covers to-go beverage, take-away food, wine bottles, restaurant scenario; performed the study for packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR) policy process; final report expected November 2023
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 26, 2023
Over 20 scientists present a vision for safer food contact materials (FCMs); propose new approach to test all chemicals that migrate from final product for their contribution to highly prevalent chronic diseases
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 25, 2023
Biomonitoring study reports association between maternal phthalate exposure and 24-month-old boy emotional/behavioral problems; short review discusses teratogenic effect and calls for health policies; research article detects phthalates in wide range of US foods, indicates phthalate migration from food processing equipment; review evaluates gas chromatography-based approaches to measure phthalates in aqueous and solid foods
Topics: phthalates
Reading time: 4 minutes
September 21, 2023
Perspective article emphasizes that the “invisible” part of polymers, the oligomers, have been overlooked with the focus being on the “visible” part, the microplastics; urgency to increase knowledge on oligomer properties, environmental behavior, and toxicity given their ever-increasing diversity, quantity, and potential toxicity
Topics: oligomer, toxicity testing
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 19, 2023
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) updates risk assessment on mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH) in food; highest MOH levels found in vegetable oils; notes that data gaps exist, especially in mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) impact on toddlers; “extremely likely” that dietary exposure to MOAH is a concern for toddlers; EFSA recommendations aim to guide EU policy on allowable MOH levels in food
Topics: EFSA, mineral oils
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 14, 2023
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comment to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the potential expansion of the agency’s Safer Choice and Design for Environment programs into new sectors; FPF encourages EPA to consider food contact materials; shares resources about chemicals of concern in food contact
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 14, 2023
“How frequent is rare?” researcher asks, emphasizes that based on current knowledge it is “premature” to neglect chemical synergism in real-life mixtures due to being “rare” and limit focus to additive behavior of chemicals; calls for further research and considering synergism in debates on mixtures risk assessment
Topics: mixture toxicity, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
September 13, 2023
Study performs migration testing on 79 plastic baby food pouches; finds four bisphenols, five phthalic acid diesters in targeted analysis and 26 more in suspect screening including 23 non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); NIAS adipic acid - diethylene glycol exceeds the threshold of toxicological concern in 40% of the pouches
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 6, 2023
Zero Waste Europe investigates CO2 emissions of reusable and single use take-away packaging; models suggest that switching to reuse results in less emissions for most packaging; includes number of rotations and return rates to reach breakeven point
Reading time: 2 minutes
