Data Scientist and Scientific Editor
EU Parliament: Draft report
European Parliament publishes draft report on the implementation of food contact materials regulation; calls on the European Commission to harmonize regulations for more FCMs, improve on risk assessment and enforcement
EU study on non-harmonized FCMs published
EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre baseline study on non-harmonized food contact materials finds shortcomings in risk assessment practices, disparities among national lists of authorized substances, and lack of testing methods; common standards are needed
Washington state publishes updates on PFAS, draft criteria
Department of Ecology for the US state of Washington publishes alternatives assessment for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging, identifies alternatives for four packaging types; restrictions will come into force early 2023; working draft criteria defining “safer” and “feasible and available” for alternative assessments released for public comment
The Guardian discusses plastic food container safety
Article introduces recent research quantifying chemicals that could be present in packaging, testing chemical toxicity; emphasizes chemical unknowns, recommends tips for consumers to minimize chemical and plastic particle exposure
Endocrine effects of parabens
Scientists review evidence on paraben preservatives acting as estrogenic endocrine disruptors; certain effects observed in animals not confirmed in humans; studies on parabens’ effects on immune and nervous system lacking
Plastic bags linked to reproductive failures
New study investigates substances from multilayer plastic bags, cause reproductive failures in artificial insemination
Opinion: Avoid FCMs with fluorinated chemicals
Scientists’ public statement recommends consumers to avoid nonstick cookware and grease proof food packaging containing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)
New FPF report: New approaches to detect NIAS in FCMs
New peer-reviewed publication addresses major challenge for FCM safety assessment: non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)
European Council adopts position on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
Maintains criteria that all packaging must be recyclable; introduces requirement for separate waste collection; tasks Commission with preparing a report on substances of concern and their impact on recycling, reuse, and chemical safety