News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
April 6, 2023
Systematic review summarizes phthalate occurrence in different foods, discusses sources, and potential risk; researchers assess how coffee packaging and brewing method affects bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) and di-butyl phthalate (DBP) levels in coffee; perform targeted analysis of 245 plastic additives in baby foods; report widespread contamination including a median of 46.1 ng phthalate esters per gram baby food
Reading time: 6 minutes
April 3, 2023
South American trade bloc MERCOSUR is updating its standards for silicone food contact materials; includes positive lists and specific migration limits for metal salts; stakeholders can comment on the draft until May 12, 2023; Argentina and Uruguay have already notified the World Trade Organization of impending changes
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 31, 2023
Scientists assess microplastics in 30 human semen and 6 testis samples; first to demonstrate presence in human male reproductive system; review finds 9 out of 11 studies demonstrate that plastic particles can translocated across placental barrier
Topics: exposure, microplastic
Reading time: 3 minutes
March 30, 2023
EFSA updates scientific opinion on mineral oil hydrocarbons in foodstuff; concludes some compounds pose health risk to EU population; public consultation is open for comments until April 30, 2023
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 27, 2023
European Commission seeks to combat ‘green washing’; proposal would regulate environmental claims and promote transparent communication to consumers; product claims will need to be independently verified, will launch new database of trustworthy labels
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 24, 2023
Scientists analyze 140 Canadian samples of food packaging and thermal labels; first to demonstrate that bisphenol S (BPS) and alternative chemicals found in food labels migrate through packaging materials into food; study assesses levels of BPS and other bisphenols in 79 canned Turkish foods; detect BPS in six samples in levels up to 0.036 mg/kg food
Reading time: 4 minutes
March 23, 2023
OECD releases three reports; reviews approaches to support alternatives assessment and substitution of chemicals of concern
Topics: chemicals of concern, OECD
Reading time: 1 minute
March 22, 2023
UK-based organization publishes roadmap to reducing food waste and single-use plastic packaging; targets selling 50% of fruits and vegetables loose by 2030; aims to support retailers and other stakeholders in reaching UK Plastics Pact targets
Reading time: 1 minute
March 21, 2023
Minderoo-Monaco Commission on Plastics and Human Health publishes extensive report summarizing plastics’ effects across life cycle on human health, environment, and the economy; health effects cost society hundreds of billions every year; report includes actions for “governments and industries to minimize the negative consequences of global plastic contamination”
Topics: BPA, human health, microplastics, nanoplastics, PFAS, phthalates, plastic, pollution, supply chain
Reading time: 4 minutes
March 17, 2023
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame detect PFAS & PFCAs in food stored in fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers for one week; authors recommend regulations on food contact uses
Reading time: 1 minute
