News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
October 29, 2021
Research study finds polystyrene microplastics exposure of pregnant mice leads to fetal losses by immune disturbance; book chapter estimates human chemical exposure via seafood contaminated with microplastics
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 28, 2021
Sets maximum daily intake limit of 3 ng/kg body weight/day for hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt; final value is much lower than first suggested in earlier 2018 draft assessment, also lower than set reference dose for the hazardous chemical PFOA it was developed to safely replace
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 28, 2021
Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the competent authority for REACH in Germany, and the German Environment Agency launch second stakeholder consultation in preparation for a REACH Restriction Dossier for bisphenol A (BPA) and other similar bisphenols; seeking updated use information including tonnages, emissions, alternatives and transition costs, and limit values; authorities already have enough data to demonstrate hazards
Reading time: 0 minutes
October 27, 2021
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds nine new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCN) since August 2021
Topics: FDA
Reading time: 1 minute
October 26, 2021
Qualitative research study explores utility of digitalization to adopt wider use of reusable packaging; identifies barriers for business adoption; shows how trackability through digitalization promotes a circular economy
Topics: circular economy
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 25, 2021
Two publications from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provide overview and assessment of global challenges related to marine litter and plastic waste; include set of infographics summarizing key thematic areas; book chapter proposes organizing diverse problem formulations and potential solutions to plastic pollution into a conceptual framework, considers necessary value judgments and world views
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 22, 2021
Five articles discuss future recycling and/or consumer waste sorting; outline future recycling technologies and recycled plastic applications; identify gaps between recycling technologies and targets of multi-material multilayer plastic packaging; find consumers wrongly dispose bioplastics and that packaging design affects sorting behavior; show single-use bag bans able to increase recycling contamination
Reading time: 6 minutes
October 20, 2021
Researchers identify systematic ambiguity within CAS labeling framework as hampering public oversight on chemical safety; outline set of recommendations to close data gaps and increase transparent communication
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 20, 2021
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces procedural changes to strengthen its review of new chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); removes confidentiality status of 377 chemicals; releases PFAS Roadmap with timeline of policy actions and commitments
Reading time: 3 minutes
October 20, 2021
The French Competition Authority alleges that 14 trade associations and 101 companies had agreements not to communicate about the use or removal of BPA from metal-containing food packaging in France; authority has not released names of the companies, but Nestle has released a statement denying the allegations
Reading time: 0 minutes
