News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
June 21, 2022
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) amends Food Sanitation Act to include process for manufacturers to receive authorization to use recycled materials in food contact applications
Topics: recycling, South Korea
Reading time: 1 minute
June 21, 2022
Two in vitro studies analyze plastic particle effects using human cells; find polystyrene (PS) particles change metabolism of human colon cells similar to a carcinogen; PS nanoplastics may have cytotoxic and genotoxic potential on human blood lymphocytes; mouse study indicates microplastics increase risk of insulin resistance; researchers calculate particle ingestion from takeaway containers
Reading time: 4 minutes
June 15, 2022
Governor Jared Polis of the US state of Colorado signs bills regulating food packaging; House Bill 22-1355 establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging and printed paper; House Bill 22-1345 bans PFAS in eight product categories including food packaging by January 1, 2024
Reading time: 1 minute
June 15, 2022
US state of Washington Department of Ecology publishes reports on phenolic compounds (e.g. bisphenols) and PFAS in certain food packaging types triggering countdown until new restrictions; phenolic compounds in drink can coatings to be restricted beginning June 2023; PFAS to be banned in bags and sleeves, bowls, flat serviceware, open-top containers, and closed containers by May 2024
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 14, 2022
European Commission (EC) publishes working document on review of whether the EU Food Contact Material Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 is fit for purpose; finds regulation is “partly effective” but “overall, the efficiency… appears to be sub-optimal”; presents concerns including lack of specifics for materials other than plastics, non-intentionally added substances, supply chain transparency, oversight, and structure of risk assessments
Reading time: 4 minutes
June 14, 2022
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) celebrates ten years of independent research on food packaging, chemicals, and health to help guide evidence-based dialogue across all levels of the food and packaging supply chain; FPF remains committed to reviewing and communicating complex scientific information with the aim of safeguarding human health and the environment into its next decade
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 13, 2022
Microplastic experts publish Toxicity of Microplastics Explorer (ToMEx), a living database to quickly upload, assess, analyze, and visualize, microplastic toxicity data; aims to inform microplastic research and regulatory decisions on plastic pollution
Topics: microplastics, toxicity
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 10, 2022
Scientists evaluate global performance of new model to predict a chemical’s concentration in food in contact with food packaging; integrated model includes uncertainty analysis and can be used for regulatory purposes
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 9, 2022
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) agrees to review the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) for use in food packaging; agency is responding to a petition filed by US civil society organizations after the European Food Safety Authority lowered official tolerable daily intake level of BPA by 100,000-fold
Reading time: 1 minute
June 7, 2022
Researchers led by the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) publish paper identifying 388 chemicals intentionally used in food contact materials (FCMs) that are harmful according to the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; 127 of these chemicals of concern have been measured to be present in FCMs including 30 monomers and 122 carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) chemicals
Reading time: 2 minutes
