News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
December 16, 2021
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) announces the release of an updated version of the Louisville Charter for Safer Chemicals; new ten-part roadmap created to “transform the chemical industry” and “alleviate its disproportionate harm” on marginalized communities; calls for requiring safer substitutes, incentivizing companies to innovate
Reading time: 0 minutes
December 16, 2021
Earthjustice files case in a federal court on behalf of eight civil society organizations; calls on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to come to a final decision on a petition filed in 2016 within 60 days; petition argues safe use of phthalates can no longer be proven and calls for a ban in all food contact materials (FCMs)
Topics: FDA, phthalates
Reading time: 1 minute
December 15, 2021
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publishes assessment of regulatory needs for groups of chemicals including ortho-phthalates; concludes that all phthalates with C4-C6 carbon backbones and similar substances are likely reproductive toxicants and endocrine disruptors; suggests regulation as a group
Reading time: 3 minutes
December 15, 2021
Federal Council adopts 21st Amendment to Consumer Goods Ordinance regulating printing inks and varnishes that directly or indirectly contact food; includes updated positive list of monomers, additives, colorants, solvents, and photoinitiators; phase in period set until the end of December 2026
Topics: printing inks
Reading time: 1 minute
December 15, 2021
Foodwatch publishes test results of 152 food products sampled across Europe; finds mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in 12% of them at levels up to 82 mg/kg food; petition calls for EU leaders to recall contaminated products and implement a zero-tolerance rule prohibiting any detectable level in all foods
Topics: mineral oils, MOAH
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 14, 2021
Rapid review assesses microplastics impacts on human cells and reports thresholds of effects lower than previously predicted; scientific study finds polystyrene (PS) microplastics to have nephrotoxic potential; reproduction and fertility study with mice reports PS microplastics to affect females more than males
Topics: microplastics, toxicity testing
Reading time: 3 minutes
December 13, 2021
Consulting company Gartner Inc. predicts 90% of sustainable packaging commitments will not be met by 2025
Reading time: 1 minute
December 9, 2021
US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine publishes report outlining US contribution and response to global ocean plastic waste; identifies data gaps and recommendations for US policy action across the supply chain; says US should ‘substantially’ reduce waste generation
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 9, 2021
Scientists develop automated non-target approach to identify and risk assess unknown chemicals in food contact plastics; detect over 300 chemical features and tentatively identify 83 compounds in a recycled polyethylene film used as proof-of-concept
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 8, 2021
European Commission (EC) proposes regulation simplifying the process for the development, certification, and use of recycled plastic food contact materials (FCMs) in the EU; would replace earlier regulation (EC) No 282/2008; open for public comment until January 10, 2022
Reading time: 2 minutes
