Dutch waffles recalled in Belgium and the Netherlands due to contamination with MOAH and MOSH at levels of up to 190 ppm and exceeding 1,000 ppm, respectively; exact source of contamination not known
Global Food Contact opening keynote highlights EC FCM updates
2021 Smithers Pira conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials; opening keynote by Jonathan Briggs details latest developments on the European Commission’s (EC) update on food contact material (FCM) legislation; release of the EC’s final impact assessment pushed back to 2023, but staff working document on FCMs planned for the end of 2021
High disease costs attributed to EDC exposure
New series of studies suggests that costs attributable to EDCs are over €150 billion per year in Europe
Ways forward to improve polymer assessment and management
Critical review evaluates regulatory approaches of polymer assessment and management; identifies critical knowledge gaps by comparison with recent scientific findings; proposes policy options for safe and sustainable polymer use; suggest more transparency, standardized testing procedures, and improved understanding of environmental fate and hazards
FPF Workshop 2018: Assessing the safety of food packaging
Experts identify challenges for risk assessment and management of food contact chemicals, present toxicity tests and analytical tools for safer food packaging
Assessing the circularity of single-use glass
Zero Waste Europe and Eunomia investigate the circularity of single-use container glass in Germany, France, the UK and US; Germany has the highest collection rates for glass and the highest proportion of recycled glass in containers; US is the lowest due to lack of collection facilities and mixed collection of glass with other packaging types; collecting glass separately and by color is the most effective way to increase circularity
Ubiquitous exposure to phenolic food contact substances
New study investigates phenolic compounds in pregnant women, finds phenols in more than 90% of specimens, specific phenol exposure may depend on ethnic group
Guidance on sorting for recycling
Plastics Recyclers Europe publishes guidance on sorting to enable high-quality recycling
Behind the barrier: Complex reality of paper and board packaging functionalization
Dossier discusses potentially misleading “eco-friendly” claims on paper and board packaging, plastic coatings are often used for functionalization: e.g., durability, grease-, water-, and gas -resistance; some alternatives exist but are not yet widely adopted or approved for food contact; recommends prioritizing reusable packaging and enforcing policy changes to eliminate PFAS and misleading marketing claims
Member States continue discussion on EDC criteria
DG SANTE publishes latest meeting minutes on revised EDC criteria; no agreement yet among Member States