Scientists analyze 140 Canadian samples of food packaging and thermal labels; first to demonstrate that bisphenol S (BPS) and alternative chemicals found in food labels migrate through packaging materials into food; study assesses levels of BPS and other bisphenols in 79 canned Turkish foods; detect BPS in six samples in levels up to 0.036 mg/kg food
Which foods could use less packaging?
Study by Package Heroes project investigates plastic material content in food product categories and greatest potential for plastic reduction; finds reduction would have strongest positive impact for candy, ready-to-eat meals; data helps to focus research on specific product groups
EC study guides creation of sustainable-by-design criteria
European Commission (EC) releases study mapping current sustainability initiatives and research applicable to creating sustainable-by-design criteria; particular focus on materials and chemicals, including a section assessing nanomaterials; finds few policies related to the production phase of a material’s life cycle; next steps are to identify specific aspects of sustainability to be covered in the criteria and how to evaluate them
ISOE: Guidance on reducing and improving food packaging materials
Scientists at the German Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) give practical recommendations for food supply companies, associations as well as decision-makers related to reducing single-use and supporting multiple-use packaging, recycling, and innovation on a technological and organizational level
Terminus and BioICEP address multilayer recycling
Research consortium secures 12 million Euro funding, launches projects in-built Triggered Enzymes to Recycle Multi-layers: an Innovation for USes in packaging (Terminus) and The Bio–Innovation of a Circular Economy for Plastics (BioICEP) ; set goal to solve problems associated with multilayered packaging, transform linear to a circular process
Review confirms additive approach for chemical mixtures
Systematic review analyzes over 700 mixture studies, confirms additive models are a good approximation, finds research focus primarily on binary mixtures; European Commission (EC) plans mixture assessment factor (MAF) for REACH; development of general mixture risk assessment methods and viable approaches to regulation still needed
CLARITY-BPA: Update and critical voices
HuffPost article addresses draft CLARITY-BPA report, various approaches to toxicity testing by regulatory and academic scientists, impact on future chemical risk assessments
Fluorotelomers in bio-based paper FCMs
Fluorotelomer alcohols measured in paper FCMs; high levels found in ‘eco-friendly’ bio-based paper packaging; metabolic transformation to hazardous perfluorinated acids possible
Urinary bisphenol A levels may influence onset of menarche
Study finds moderate concentrations of urinary BPA associated with overall delayed menarche in adolescent girls
New method to evaluate effects of electron beam treatment on chemical migration in PP films
New two-dimensional gas chromatography method assesses effects of electron beam treatment of polypropylene films on composition of chemical migration extracts.