Recent reports investigate whitening agents’ migration from disposable plastic containers; characterize 153 chemicals migrating from paper packaging and show estimated dietary exposure for children to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) exceed safety threshold; detect brominated flame retardants in repeat-use food contact articles; review metal can coating literature concerning coatings types, chemical migrants, detection methods, dietary exposure, and regulatory
BPA and PVC in U.S. food can coatings
New survey of food cans purchased from 4 U.S. retailers finds 33-52% to still contain bisphenol A, 17-25% contain polyvinylchloride; NGOs call on retailers and food brands to remove BPA and ensure safety of alternatives
Melamine migration from bamboo tableware in China
Study explores the migration of melamine, a suspected carcinogen, and its derivatives from tableware made with melamine-formaldehyde resin or melamine combined with bamboo or wheat straw, purchased in China; 35% of bamboo tableware samples exceeded China’s specific migration limit for melamine; many melamine-based products are marketed to children
Impact of labels, inks and glues on PET recycling
Industry study shows negative effects of incompatible label materials, glues, and inks on the recyclability of PET drinking bottles; impacts on color and clarity of recycled PET
Environmental toxicity of nanomaterials
German Environment Agency releases reports on aquatic toxicity and environmental fate of nanomaterials
ECHA: Guidance on REACH registration of nanomaterials
European Chemicals Agency publishes and updates several guidance documents for REACH registration of nanomaterials
Toolbox for nanomaterial safety assessment
JRC develops inventory of tools for assessing nanomaterial safety; toolbox freely accessible on JRC’s website
Modeling nanoparticles in the environment
Dutch institute for public health and environment releases computational model to determine concentrations of nanoparticles in the environment
EU symposium: Nanomaterials in food and FCMs
EU Commission and Member States discuss nanomaterials in food and food contact materials; summary report available
Petition calls for US FDA to consider cumulative effects
Coalition requests US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to follow its own mandate to consider cumulative effects of chemicals present during safety assessments; covers chemicals directly added to food, substances migrating from food packaging, substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS); finds only 1 of 877 existing GRAS notifications adhered to requirement