Scientists evaluate consumer health risks from food contact articles made of aluminum; tolerable weekly intake may be significantly exceeded with grill pans and camping cookware used with acidic foodstuffs
REACH debate at EU Parliament
Members of EU Parliament react to German study showing a third of REACH registrations non-compliant; calls for publicizing the list of infringing companies, more efficient dossier evaluation, stricter enforcement
EFSA: Draft opinion on NMDR open for consultation
European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) draft opinion reviews literature on assessment of non-monotonic dose responses (NMDRs), finds lack of standards for statistical approaches; suggests stepwise approach for ambiguous ‘apparent’ NMDRs; approach applied in two case studies finds no NMDR for bisphenol A (BPA) but does for di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP); open for comments until February 4, 2021
DEHP infant exposure may exceed safe levels
New study reviews literature on phthalate exposure and diet, estimates infant exposure to DEHP to exceed US EPA’s reference dose
EFSA CEP Panel updates from November 2021 to April 2022
Minutes available from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP Panel) working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, phthalates, and extraction solvents
EFSA working group on BPA immunotoxicity
Meeting minutes of EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on BPA immunotoxicity available on EFSA’s website
Nanoparticles may affect gut function
New study finds zinc nanoparticles used in food can coatings to negatively affect intestinal functions such as nutrient absorption, iron and glucose transport; UPDATE: original article retracted due to calculation mistake; corrected article published in December 2018
PFAS are present in Vietnam FCMs, especially mochi paper trays
First study to assess per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food contact materials (FCMs) in Vietnam detects them in 16 out of 18 samples; mostly in low levels but up to 624 ng/g in mochi paper tray; authors call for more focus on Global South since PFAS research focus is mostly on the North
WHO report on potential human health implications of microplastics
World Health Organization (WHO) report assesses human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics via inhalation and diet as well as potential health implications; finds available data of limited use for risk assessment
Migration of substances of very high concern
New scientific study by the FPF summarizes use and migration of substances of very high concern in food contact materials; 5 out of 10 SVHCs regularly detected to migrate in food