News Article

Workshop finds knowledge gaps around MOH in food

Trends in Food Science & Technology publishes outcome from multistakeholder workshop by International Life Science Institute “to identify knowledge gaps in analytical methods, assessment of exposure, hazard characterization, and risk assessment of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH);” highlights need for standardization of MOH measurements in food, finds few studies look at packaging material or foods packaged in materials other than paperboard

News Article

European Council approves framework for drinking water recast

Position supports recasting EU Drinking Water Directive to consider safety of materials that come into contact with drinking water; will specify minimum hygiene requirements, create positive lists of material starting substances, compositions, and chemical constituents

News Article

Documents suggest plastic recycling never intended to work

EcoWatch article presents evidence that manufacturers knew since 1970s that plastic recycling is not viable economically; recent survey finds only 1/3 of UK food product packaging locally recyclable; manufacturer singles out PET as way forward towards circular economy

News Article

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