Research project Food Contact Chemicals & Human Health Project The Food Packaging Forum is systematically investigating the use and hazards of food contact chemicals, their migration into foods, presence in humans, and associated health effects Mapping the Evidence on FCCs Food packaging and other food contact articles are a source of human exposure to chemicals. This is because many of the food contact chemicals (FCCs) that are present in food contact materials (FCMs) are not tightly bound within the material’s […]
Review summarizes microplastic exposures to humans
Peer-reviewed article summarizes occurrence, source, and characterization of microplastics in food and beverages; reports highly variable concentrations within and between food categories; identifies water bodies, packaging, and food handling as source of microplastic contamination
Diglycidyl ethers of BPA and BPF detected in humans
Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BADGE) and bisphenol F (BFDGE) measured in human blood plasma and adipose fat
BPA absorption in the mouth
Scientists compare internal levels and metabolism of BPA after gavage or diet administration; demonstrate significant buccal absorption of BPA from solid foods
Safety concerns regarding triclosan persist
Regulatory safety evaluation of triclosan comes under critique as FDA review is delayed
BPS and other color developers migrate from food labels into food
Scientists analyze 140 Canadian samples of food packaging and thermal labels; first to demonstrate that bisphenol S (BPS) and alternative chemicals found in food labels migrate through packaging materials into food; study assesses levels of BPS and other bisphenols in 79 canned Turkish foods; detect BPS in six samples in levels up to 0.036 mg/kg food
New Australian lab to measure micro- and nanoplastics in humans
University of Queensland opens one of the world’s first plastics contamination-controlled labs jointly with Minderoo Foundation; studies micro- and nanoplastics in human blood and tissue samples; steel walls, cotton lab coats, and extensive testing of all construction materials limits environmental plastic contamination
Cardiotoxicity of BPA
CLARITY-BPA study finds BPA exposure to increase incidence and severity of cardiomyopathy, promoting myocardial degeneration; BPA’s cardiotoxicity could be caused by adverse vascular events
Study linking BPA to systemic complications causes heated debate
Study links BPA metabolite to biomarker of systemic stress and infers an association with chronic diseases
PFAS detected in European disposable food packaging
Coalition of civil society organizations samples paper food packaging articles from major fast-food chains and supermarkets across six European countries; chemical analysis finds 32 articles were intentionally treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); differences identified among countries, results show the currently few national regulations on PFAS are effective where they are in place