Topics
chemicals of concern
May 25, 2026
Greenpeace International-commissioned study finds microplastic and chemical contamination in baby food packaged in flexible pouches from Nestlé and Danone; detects plastic-associated hormone disruptor and potential obesogen in purees; calls on Gerber and U.S. Government to act
Reading time: 4 minutes
May 22, 2026
Publications outline process for post-market assessment of food chemicals, including in food contact; FPF comments on food chemical prioritization tool not addressed; FDA also reviewing safety of BHT and ADA as food additives
Reading time: 4 minutes
April 30, 2026
Intergovernmental organization assesses challenges in chemical safety for recycled plastic; proposes regulatory measures to mitigate barriers
Reading time: 3 minutes
January 20, 2026
Updated version of Food Contact Chemicals Priority (FCCprio) List introduces new resources; shows which chemicals have been used to make or have been found in relevant food contact materials; users can now compare their own chemical set(s) with the FCCprio List
Reading time: 1 minute
January 16, 2026
Report from Systemiq evaluates health and ecological impacts of synthetic pesticides, bisphenols, phthalates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food systems; estimates annual health and ecological costs of 3 trillion USD annually; offers measures to reduce costs by 1.9 trillion USD per year
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 4, 2025
"Breaking the Plastic Wave 2025” report emphasizes urgency of addressing the plastic pollution crisis; acknowledges human health impacts of chemicals when using plastic; proposes reuse as key solution to reduce virgin plastic production
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 11, 2025
Food Packaging Forum releases the Food Contact Chemicals Priority (FCCprio) List; 1,222 substances have harmonized hazard data showing persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, or others; 81 % of all known food contact chemicals lack harmonized hazard data
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 10, 2025
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selects five chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the Toxic Substance Control Act - four are used in food contact; announces the next five chemicals to start this prioritization process which might eventually lead to risk evaluation and seeks comments on their usage and hazards by March 18, 2025
Reading time: 1 minute
November 15, 2024
European Ombudsman submits formal recommendation to European Commission (EC) on risk management of chemicals; emphasizes EC repeatedly misses deadlines for regulating substances under REACH; finds decision-making process is not sufficiently transparent; conclude it to be maladministration
Reading time: 1 minute
October 24, 2024
Article connects the dots between two global challenges: plastics and ultra-processed foods (UPFs); authors highlight how plastics have enabled the mass production of low-cost UPFs, leading to widespread health and environmental harms; emphasize that thousands of chemicals from plastic packaging migrate into food, many of which are hazardous and inadequately tested; urge joint efforts to tackle both issues, suggesting that addressing plastics and UPFs together could lead to more effective solutions
Reading time: 2 minutes
