News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
July 13, 2021
Participants at the Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability discuss goals and build momentum for the upcoming 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5); ministerial dialogue took place July 7th; stakeholder dialogue held on July 8th with over 800 participants
Reading time: 1 minute
July 13, 2021
Literature review summarizes challenges regarding non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in plastic food contact materials (FCMs); describes 52 studies with their applied methodologies for NIAS extraction and identification, plastic types analyzed, and NIAS detected; highlights NIAS assessment as a challenge for scientific community and industry due to lack of hazard data, a missing harmonized methodology, and outdated regulatory guidelines
Reading time: 1 minute
July 9, 2021
European Commission notifies World Trade Organization of 5 substances for the REACH Authorization list out of 18 originally recommended by European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); 5 of the 13 postponed chemicals are in the Food Packaging Forum’s Food Contact Chemicals database as priority hazardous substances
Reading time: 1 minute
July 8, 2021
Scientists design a web-based behavioral intervention to reduce endocrine disruptor exposure in mothers with young children; involves educational videos and games to affect diet, product use, and other habits; study finds one-month intervention significantly lowers urinary concentration of bisphenol A, triclosan, parabens, and phthalate metabolites
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 8, 2021
The Intercept reports four career staff members of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claim that the agency is hiding risks discovered in toxicological assessments of chemicals; plans additional follow-up articles to further investigate the claims
Topics: chemical analytics, chemical exposure
Reading time: 1 minute
July 8, 2021
Plastics are complex materials with many chemical and physical properties; when considering chemical exposure, “safe” can be difficult to define; the Food Packaging Forum provides four tips for safer use of reusable food packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
July 7, 2021
European Commission and EU Member States agree to launch an EU Enforcement Action Plan on bamboo powder-containing plastic food contact materials (FCMs) to ensure that bamboo and other illegal plant-based additives are not marketed in the EU
Reading time: 1 minute
July 7, 2021
American Association for the Advancement of Science publishes special journal issue on plastics; includes reviews, perspectives, and news on various components of the plastics value chain; particular focus on waste management technologies that may contribute to a circular plastics economy, effects of plastic pollution on animals and the environment, support for a UN agreement on plastics
Topics: plastics
Reading time: 4 minutes
July 6, 2021
International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) report details current recycling schemes; concludes waste management techniques not “capable of alleviating” the growing plastic pollution crisis; recommends government actions to reduce plastic production; Break Free From Plastic follows up on 215 packaging commitments from top plastic pollution producing companies: 18 projects with no information after press release, few projects lessen plastic production; Upstream compares single-use and reusable service ware for environmental impact and business cost, finds “reuse wins”
Reading time: 4 minutes
July 5, 2021
Review resolves misinterpretations of the essential-use concept and exemplifies the concept’s application using case studies, e.g., on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); classifies concept as feasible and a novel, effective, and more rapid approach of managing chemicals of potential concern
Reading time: 3 minutes
