Safer Chemicals Healthy Families surveys consumers to understand their view on toxic chemicals in products; observes strong preference for ‘safe and healthy products free of dangerous chemicals’
FPF improves usability of brand and retailer initiatives database
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) updates global database of initiatives and commitments by food brands and retailers concerning food packaging safety and sustainability; database now presented as an interactive dashboard searchable by company name, type of organization, location, keywords, and date; currently contains nearly 600 actions pledged or undertaken by over 320 companies
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
Update: BPA warning label in California
State of California holds point-of-sale warnings for food cans and bottles containing BPA in place until the end of 2017; manufacturers must list affected products in online database
US state policies on PFAS in food contact, Q3 and Q4 2023
Maine and Minnesota consult on draft policies concerning bans or reporting requirements on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food contact materials and articles; California Attorney General warns companies of penalties for selling or failing to disclose PFAS-containing food packaging and cookware; Nevada governor vetoes PFAS bill, state senator plans to reintroduce bill in 2024
Survey on quats
Canadian government initiates survey of quaternary ammonium compounds aiming to establish national inventory
Microplastics detected in human breastmilk and mice fetal thalamus
Two studies assess fetal and infant exposure to plastic particles and impacts on mouse fetuses; detect microplastics in 26 out of 34 human breastmilk samples; report polystyrene particles negatively impact mouse fetuses
Studies investigate circular economy barriers, consumer perceptions
Recent set of articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals review current barriers in flexible plastics to achieving circular economy, recommends regulatory policies be tailored to individual steps in supply chain; consumers easily confused by plastic waste management system, recycling processes, biodegradability claims; researchers instead propose food system shift towards decentralization, shorter supply chains
Chemicals in coatings of coffee to go cups
German TV program investigates composition of plastic inner coatings of coffee to go cups; finds samples to contain diisodecyl phthalate and long-chain hydrocarbons
Oligomers in PBT and PEN polyesters
Scientists characterize oligomers in polybutylene terephthalate and polyethylene naphthalate intended for food contact; oligomer migration from PBT considered safe based on threshold of toxicological concern considerations