Academic and industry scientists debate whether use of mechanistic data in regulatory hazard assessment of chemicals should be decisive or supportive only, discuss study selection process for systematic reviews
Anses reviews use of nanomaterials in foods and FCMs
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (Anses) publishes review on presence of engineered nanomaterials in food and food packaging; identifies set of primary uses and substances
NTP report reviews carcinogenicity of benzophenone-3
U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) publishes draft technical report investigating carcinogenicity of photostabilizing ingredient, finds ‘equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity’; public peer review expert panel meeting set for December 12, 2019 with live webinar
Microplastic impacts on child health: knowns and unknowns
Scientific commentary discusses pregnancy- and child-relevant exposure to and impacts of nano- and microplastics: finds 37 studies mostly on plastic particles in food and placental transfer, identifies major knowledge gaps, and advocates policymakers and industry to implement precautionary approaches; Nature Reviews Materials article proposes microplastic risk assessment framework
Review of food packaging attributes on life cycle impacts
Peer-reviewed article in the journal Environmental Science and Technology reviews 71 published life cycle assessment (LCA) studies comparing packaging; investigates correlation of attributes such as recyclability and being biobased on total environmental impacts, recommends against focusing on individual attributes
Plastic recycling: company commitments and chemical safety challenges
Scientists report most large companies commit to reducing plastic pollution but focus on recycling; extrusion of recycled materials and legacy compounds in recycled materials as safety challenge; some substances increase others decrease with the increase in recycled content in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles; tentatively identify 212 volatile chemicals in 57 different recycled PET flakes available in China; present migration model to characterize the exposure and risk of PET oligomers
EU urged to authorize recycling for food contact
Industry association Plastics Recyclers Europe calls on EU Commission to officially authorize EFSA-evaluated processes for use of recycled plastics in food contact applications
UP Scorecard webinar shares resources, tips for eliminating toxic chemicals in packaging
Webinar on June 1, 2022, to share insights and new resources to help companies begin to better identify and address toxic chemicals present in foodware and food packaging; features expert speakers from five different food service companies and civil society organizations
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
European Parliament adopts amended Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
Includes ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and bisphenol A in food packaging and general packaging reduction targets; decreases reuse obligations