News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
September 26, 2022
Study finds up to 6000 particles/L to be released from disposable drinking cups; scientists estimate humans ingest 37,613–89,294 microplastics through plastic cups use per year; study suggests consumption from plastic containers changes human gut and oral microbiota composition; review concludes that uptake of microplastics carrying pathogens may impact human health
Reading time: 4 minutes
September 23, 2022
World Health Organization (WHO) report assesses human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics via inhalation and diet as well as potential health implications; finds available data of limited use for risk assessment
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 20, 2022
Scientists assess studies used to restrict chemicals under REACH; report data from non-standard studies contribute to the majority of REACH restrictions; 30% of studies the European Chemicals Agency identifies as key to a restriction are not included in REACH registration database; recommend increasing transparency
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 20, 2022
European Commission (EC) publishes new regulation encompassing recycling processes for all plastics intended to come into contact with food; outlines authorization procedure for recyclers, enforcement for Member States
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 16, 2022
Swiss national campaign analyses 109 oily food samples packaged in glass jars on the compliance of migration of plasticizers from their lid gaskets; comparison with European campaigns conducted a decade ago shows similar proportion of non-compliant samples with non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-gasket; urges food businesses to pay more attention to the suitability of their products lids
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 15, 2022
Study compares toxicity of nanoplastic particles with different sizes and surface charges on human placental cells; demonstrates smaller particles induce higher toxicity; recommend performing nanoplastic risk assessment on reproduction and fetal development
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 15, 2022
Confederation of Paper Industries, publishes guide for packaging designers to increase recyclability of paper products; to improve recycling quality, suggests limiting laminates, coatings, inks, varnishes, and adhesives to no more than 10% of pack weight, aspirational goal of 5%; standard paper mills cannot process much laminate, e.g. coffee cups, cold cups, beverage cartons
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 14, 2022
New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Center publishes webpage with resources to inform and guide local food brands about use of recycled food packaging; includes concerns about chemical migration, outlines questions to consider when adopting new packaging; New Zealand Food and Grocery Council commits to increasing adoption of standardized recycling labels
Topics: New Zealand, recycling
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 13, 2022
US Environmental Protection Agency proposes to classify two PFAS as hazardous substances; would obligate manufacturers who released the chemicals into environment to register the release and potentially pay for cleanup; Over 2800 known contaminated sites; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine suggests doctors test more groups for PFAS exposure; California likely to implement bill to register nearly all products with intentionally added PFAS
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 9, 2022
EU Advocate General advises the General Court to reject the primary argument of PlasticsEurope in its case against the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) identification of bisphenol A (BPA) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC); Advocate General calls the argument “in its entirety as unfounded”; this appeal is based on the classification as an environmental endocrine disruptor
Reading time: 1 minute
