News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
August 17, 2021
Scientific study characterizes chemicals contained in 210 consumer products made of recycled or virgin material regarding identity, functional use, structural class, and origin and prioritizes chemicals; 65% of chemicals with greater concentrations in recycled materials, along with a higher number of flame retardants, biocides, dyes, and fragrances in recycled materials
Reading time: 4 minutes
August 16, 2021
Companies Zume and Solenis release recipe and manufacturing specifications to produce molded fiber packaging free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); alternative suitable for high temperatures, grease and water-resistant; decide to make the process freely available to speed the transition to safer packaging materials
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
August 13, 2021
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 13 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS)
Reading time: 1 minute
August 13, 2021
Scientific study performs hazard prioritization on chemicals in printing inks and adhesives applied to plastic food packaging; uses publicly available “substances of concern” lists and an in silico tool; identifies 636 high and 1024 medium priority substances of which 696 ranked as “very high priority substances” by experts
Reading time: 4 minutes
August 13, 2021
European Commission (EC) opens public consultation period for the revision of EU legislation on hazard classification, labeling, and packaging of chemicals (CLP); seeks comments from all stakeholders through November 15, 2021
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 0 minutes
August 12, 2021
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adds 36 chemicals to Safer Chemical Ingredients List, 22 used in food contact materials; four are classified as chemicals of potential concern according to FPF’s Food Contact Chemicals database
Reading time: 1 minute
August 12, 2021
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes 5th edition of almanac; includes all the institutions in each EU Member State and ten neighboring countries responsible for food and feed safety, including packaging; provides diagram of institutional relationships and explains responsibilities of each institution
Topics: BFR
Reading time: 1 minute
August 11, 2021
Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kirsten Gillibrand introduce the Preventing Harmful Exposure to Phthalates Act into the US Senate; Representatives Ted Lieu and Katie Porter introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives; bill would “prohibit [the] use of ortho-phthalates in food contact substances, including food packaging materials” (FCMs)
Reading time: 1 minute
August 11, 2021
Literature review explores opportunities of bio-based active materials in food packaging applications and the circular economy; demonstrates high research interest in the topic over last 20 years; finds agro-industrial waste as promising, renewable, and environmentally friendly resource for bio-based materials; study finds circular economy to be the focus of perspective articles to mitigate plastic pollution but mismatch with psychosocial research
Reading time: 4 minutes
August 10, 2021
In a letter, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reminds manufacturers, distributors, and users “that only certain fluorinated polyethylene containers are authorized for food contact use”; reminder necessary following recent findings by US EPA and civil society organizations that some manufacturers are not following FDA regulations
Reading time: 1 minute
