German institute for risk assessment publishes position statement on melamine-formaldehyde resins, including tableware made with bamboo fibers; warns consumers against using such tableware with hot liquids; recommends lowering specific migration limit of formaldehyde in EU regulation from 15 to 6 mg/kg
Studies report on bisphenol exposure and health effects
Review summarizes plastic-associated bisphenol A (BPA) sources, exposure, and human health risks; dietary bisphenol exposure via packaged food consumption in Saudi Arabia is potential human health concern; review discusses bisphenols’ effects on the cardiovascular system and recommends human-relevant studies with bisphenols other than BPA; consensus scoring analysis identifies endocrine-disrupting food contact chemicals potentially interacting with nuclear receptors
11th amendment to EU plastic FCM regulation
EU Commission publishes 11th amendment to plastic FCM regulation, authorizes 2 new food contact substances, changes specific migration limits for 2 existing Union List substances
Brominated flame retardants detected in Korean FCMs
Varying levels of the four major brominated flame retardants found in polystyrene food contact materials
Health risks of aluminum FCMs
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
EFSA assesses new plasticizer for PVC
European Food Safety Authority’s CEP Panel finds trimellitic acid, tris(2-ehtylhexyl) ester safe for use as plasticizer in soft PVC for making single-use wrap films or repeated use tubing
Contaminants in pasta packed in recycled paperboard
Italian researchers investigate migration of hydrocarbon contaminants into dry semolina and egg pasta packed in recycled paperboard, nature of the food influenced contaminant levels
EFSA approves polymeric additive for use in FCMs
New additive copolymer in nanoform to be used in PVC and PLA
Inorganic elements in PHA bioplastics
Scientists measure content and migration of inorganic elements from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA); report higher levels in PHA produced from municipal waste and wastewater sludge fractions compared to PHA produced from fruit wastes; in all cases migration below set migration limits
Lower BPA limit for baby soothers
European Committee for Standardization (CEN) lowers migration limit for bisphenol A in baby soothers to 0.01 mg/L