News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
October 19, 2022
Four studies investigate bisphenol (BP) migration from food packaging and human health effects; demonstrate wide presence of 11 bisphenols in polystyrene take-out food containers from China, Canada, and Poland; report material quality influences BPA migration from polycarbonate cups; indicate higher BPA migration from lined cans than plastic packaging into meat based on probabilistic models; find bisphenols A, F, and S induce genotoxic effects and changes in human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) expression using human blood cells
Reading time: 7 minutes
October 18, 2022
Earthjustice files petition asking US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke approval of 600 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) allowed on the market under exemptions of the Toxic Substances Control Act; represents about half the number of PFAS on the market; EPA extends reach of guidelines for federal purchasing of PFAS-free products; Food and Drug Administration funding bill stripped of reform amendments including federal ban on PFAS in food packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 17, 2022
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) report helps businesses understand importance of addressing hazardous chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs), current challenges; shares tools and resources to support decision making; argues that to be truly sustainable, packaging must also be safe for both human and environmental health
Reading time: 1 minute
October 13, 2022
18th meeting of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Review Committee recommends global elimination of the UV stabilizer known as UV-328 under the Stockholm Convention; time limited exemptions proposed for some current uses; Convention will review the proposal for finalization in May 2023
Reading time: 1 minute
October 11, 2022
European Commission launches next step within ongoing revision of food contact material (FCM) regulation; asks for stakeholder input on appropriate scope, hazards, tools to implement within future rules; targets citizens and engaged stakeholder organizations; feedback accepted until January 11, 2023
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
October 5, 2022
Article summarizes objectives and proceedings summary of a workshop series taking place in September 2021 helping EU agencies to strengthen enforcement of compliance work for food contact materials (FCMs) in Europe; 84 participants compile toolbox guiding enforcement agencies'
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 4, 2022
Three studies on microplastics and the human placenta; demonstrate particle presence in several intracellular compartments of placentas for the first time; assume breastfeeding and plastic toy usage as microplastic exposure sources to lactating infants; associate placental plastics with reduced fetal growth
Reading time: 5 minutes
October 3, 2022
Minutes available from recent meetings of the working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, and phthalates within the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP Panel)
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 30, 2022
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) amends national packaging legislation to add overall migration limits for antimony and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from plastic food packaging
Topics: bisphenol S, India
Reading time: 1 minute
September 29, 2022
European Commission publishes draft amendment to the EU’s Classification, Labeling, and Packaging Regulation (CLP); adds classification of endocrine disrupting chemicals and adopts hazard classes from REACH; comment period until October 18, 2022; European Chemicals Agency proposes classifying 9 chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) including bisphenol S and melamine; comment period until October 17, 2022
Reading time: 2 minutes
