Scientists explore the impact of long-term oral exposure of mammals to food packaging leachates on gut microbiome diversity, composition, and metabolites; report changes in gut microbiota and metabolites mainly associated with oxidative stress, immunity, and inflammatory responses
BEUC election manifesto
European Consumer Organization (BEUC) releases EU Parliament elections manifesto, highlights elimination of consumer exposure to harmful chemicals as one of the key priorities for the new legislative period
Majority of plastic food contact articles likely endocrine and metabolism disrupting
Two studies investigating chemicals from retail plastic food contact articles find considerable variability in complexity, with subsequent effects on cell-based tests of hormone disruption; many more chemicals measured from PVC and polyurethane than other polymers though the chemical mixtures from majority of the plastic samples are hormone disrupting; further evidence of PVC and PUR can interfere with GPCR-based cell communication
Study analyzes unknown chemicals in recycled plastic
Scientists develop automated non-target approach to identify and risk assess unknown chemicals in food contact plastics; detect over 300 chemical features and tentatively identify 83 compounds in a recycled polyethylene film used as proof-of-concept
MERCOSUR publishes draft silicone FCM regulation
South American trade bloc MERCOSUR is updating its standards for silicone food contact materials; includes positive lists and specific migration limits for metal salts; stakeholders can comment on the draft until May 12, 2023; Argentina and Uruguay have already notified the World Trade Organization of impending changes
BPA exposure of Italian children via soft drinks
Italian researchers consider BPA contamination in soft drinks to be of risk for children’s health
Guide to PFAS-free foodservice ware
BizNGO network publishes fact sheet on hazards of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, recommendations on purchasing PFAS-free foodservice ware
Contamination found in paper straws
Swiss government laboratory tests paper drinking straws purchased from grocery stores and restaurants; finds chloropropanols, mineral oils, photoinitiators
Campaign detects mineral oil hydrocarbons in European food products
Foodwatch publishes test results of 152 food products sampled across Europe; finds mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in 12% of them at levels up to 82 mg/kg food; petition calls for EU leaders to recall contaminated products and implement a zero-tolerance rule prohibiting any detectable level in all foods
Scotland plans 2023 launch of drink container deposit program
Scotland plans to redirect ‘tens of millions’ of drinks bottles and cans to recycling streams by adding deposits; starting 2023, consumers pay extra 20 pence on purchase but get money back when container returned; roll-out delayed one year due to Brexit and pandemic