Topics
US
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
May 15, 2026
Food Safety and Disclosure Act requires generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food additives on the New York market to be added to public database; aims to close Food and Drug Administration loophole allowing use of food additives without public knowledge; argues federal GRAS reform is too slow; other states considering similar bills while US House of Representatives remains divided
Reading time: 5 minutes
March 19, 2026
US Department of Agriculture addresses petition by Biodegradable Products Institute; decides synthetic polymers not eligible for inclusion on National List of Allowed Prohibited Substances; open to assessment of individual polymers for inclusion; implications for California compostable packaging law; BPI now filing new petition
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 18, 2026
Survey of 5,357 Americans shows 90% concerned about exposure to harmful chemicals in food packaging; 66% think more needs to be done to ensure safety of consumer products; 83% feel US government needs to do more to identify and regulate harmful chemicals
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 17, 2026
PR3 and CSA Group share design standard for durability and safety of reusable containers over repeated use and washing; include chemicals and chemical groups that cannot be used in manufacturing; limit use of post-consumer recycled content in reusable plastic containers for food and beverage applications; add disclosure requirements for manufacturing materials
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 26, 2026
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes new dietary guidelines for Americans; notes health risks of highly processed foods and their packaging; calls for further research to fill knowledge gaps about chemicals in food and health
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 8, 2026
US EPA publishes risk evaluations of five phthalates; concludes they pose a risk to human health and the environment including endocrine disruption; specifically concerned about workers’ exposure; plans to develop protection measures
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 18, 2025
U.S. Plastics Pact, WRAP, and Upstream announce scoping phase of Reuse in Retail Initiative; aims to help brands, retailers, and reuse providers identify feasible applications for reuse in retail; initiative will conclude in 2028 with launch of reuse program in U.S.
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 13, 2025
U.S. Plastics Pact reports progress on 2025 targets to address plastic pollution; far off from reaching them especially regarding recycling rates; sets out new targets for moving beyond 2025 with more focus on reusable packaging
Topics: plastics pact, US
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 6, 2024
White House releases plan to reduce impacts of plastic across the entire lifecycle; aims to eliminate single-use plastic in federal food service by 2027, and in all federal operations by 2045
Reading time: 2 minutes
