News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
May 22, 2026
Publications outline process for post-market assessment of food chemicals, including in food contact; FPF comments on food chemical prioritization tool not addressed; FDA also reviewing safety of BHT and ADA as food additives
Reading time: 4 minutes
May 20, 2026
European Commission is drafting a regulation to restrict substances deemed to be carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR) from childcare products; includes some food contact materials
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 15, 2026
Food Safety and Disclosure Act requires generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food additives on the New York market to be added to public database; aims to close Food and Drug Administration loophole allowing use of food additives without public knowledge; argues federal GRAS reform is too slow; other states considering similar bills while US House of Representatives remains divided
Reading time: 5 minutes
May 14, 2026
China Packaging Federation completes consultation on 2026–2030 industry plan, emphasizing green transformation, improved standards, and global standards recognition; EU and China launch pilot project for closed-loop food contact plastic recycling
Reading time: 1 minute
May 12, 2026
Systematic evidence map examines global human exposure to 90 bisphenol chemicals and their alternatives, with focus on social and environmental justice issues: includes 1,413 studies; data gaps relate to low-income countries, elderly populations, occupational exposure, social and gender minority populations; research lacking on 53 chemicals
Topics: bisphenol
Reading time: 4 minutes
May 11, 2026
Ban on bisphenols in food contact materials (FCMs) will be postponed until domestic legislation is made instead of declaring alignment with EU
Topics: bisphenols, UK
Reading time: 1 minute
May 8, 2026
Revision of the EU flagship chemical legislation, begun in 2020, no longer a priority; minor revisions may still take place through comitology with focus on lowering complexity; chemical industry groups in favor, civil society opposed
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 4, 2026
In a commentary, The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics outlines the multiple harms of plastic, including micro- and nanoplastics; describes necessary interventions and tracking of measures over time; explains why constructive debate is essential for advancing the science
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 30, 2026
Intergovernmental organization assesses challenges in chemical safety for recycled plastic; proposes regulatory measures to mitigate barriers
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 29, 2026
Switzerland proposes amendment to align and partially go beyond EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requirements concerning PFAS in food contact materials; Swiss proposal adds PFAS limitations to empty packaging on the market; Food Packaging Forum (FPF) suggests extending amendment to include reusable food contact materials considering the scientific evidence
Topics: PFAS, Switzerland
Reading time: 2 minutes
