US NGO Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families releases guides on eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from food packaging used by fast-food restaurants and grocery chains
August 7, 2020
Study detects PFAS across US fast food restaurant packaging
Mind the Store campaign and Toxic-Free Future collect and test 29 food packaging samples from 6 US fast food chains for fluorine levels; find that burger wrappers and containers from McDonald’s and Burger King likely treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); paper bags used for French fries and deserts have consistently high fluorine levels
August 3, 2020
6:2 FTOH manufacturers to phase out use in food packaging
Three manufacturers of the short chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) commit to voluntarily phase out use by 2023; concerns about potential persistence in humans following dietary exposure
July 31, 2020
California to hold virtual workshop on PFAS in food packaging
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) workshop on August 31, 2020 to receive public input on identifying plant-fiber based food packaging as priority product; report with product-chemical profile published and open for public comment until September 13, 2020
July 31, 2020
Critics call for review of US EPA’s final new use rule on PFAS
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes final significant new use rule (SNUR) for set of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); final version omits language applying rule to interior-facing surface coatings, results in call for formal inspection of rule making process by government officials; Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) criticizes agency for non-transparent approval of new PFASs via process exemptions
July 27, 2020
State of New York to ban PFAS in food packaging
House and Senate chambers both pass legislation, set to ban use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging starting in 2023; legislation sent to state governor for signature into law
July 14, 2020
Toxics in packaging legislation to restrict PFAS, ortho-phthalates
Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) proposes to update its model legislation already adopted in 19 US states; set to ban presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in packaging above detection limit, limit presence of ortho-phthalates to 100 ppm; comments accepted until August 24, 2020
July 6, 2020
High PFAS blood levels in German children
Biomonitoring study by German Environment Agency (UBA) measures 12 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood plasma of children and adolescents; finds highest average levels of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS)
July 3, 2020
US military, European Commission planning action on PFAS
Bipartisan bill in US Congress aims to prohibit military purchase of food service ware and food packaging containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); draft set of action points for European Commission chemicals strategy reported to restrict all non-essential uses of PFAS
July 2, 2020
EU publishes PFOA regulation
European Commission regulation restricts use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds as a persistent organic pollutants; sets maximum concentration of 0.025 mg/kg for PFOA and salts, 1 mg/kg for related compounds; series of exemptions also in place
