Topics
USA
August 25, 2026
Defend Our Health launches searchable directory of food contact materials’ chemical disclosures; database summarizes whether manufacturers disclose intentional PFAS use; builds on California transparency requirements
Reading time: 2 minutes
August 20, 2026
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces two food policy actions under Make America Healthy Again agenda; proposal would require companies to report GRAS conclusions; existing GRAS uses offered temporary streamlined reporting route; federal definition of ultra-processed foods submitted for final review
Reading time: 4 minutes
July 23, 2026
US study estimates at least 5.1 billion pounds (2.3 million metric tons) of post-consumer plastic recovered for recycling in 2024; overall increase compared with 2022; growth largely driven by plastic film; plastic bottle recovery declined
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 12, 2026
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes draft contaminant list that may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act; list also covers microplastics; Food Packaging Forum (FPF) comments that measures to reduce microplastic exposure must begin now
Topics: microplastics, USA
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 10, 2026
California law to only allow recyclability labels on packaging if > 60% of the population has access to suitable recycling facilities goes into effect October 2026; packaging and food industry suing that law is a violation of company free speech
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 21, 2026
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Human Foods Program publishes list of research, data, and methods needs; highlights knowledge gaps for food contact chemicals; includes PFAS, microplastics, and nanoparticles; Program receives $109 million increase in funding from US government
Reading time: 3 minutes
September 11, 2025
MAHA Commission plan outlines over 120 initiatives; items related to food contact include GRAS reform, removing harmful chemicals from the food supply, microplastics; agencies to expand research on environmental exposures and cumulative risk
Reading time: 3 minutes
August 11, 2025
US Department of Health and Human Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture open comment period to develop a federal definition for ultra-processed foods (UPFs); data from 2021–2023 show UPFs make up 62 % of American youth's diet and 53 % of adults’ diet
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 11, 2025
About one third of US states have taken regulatory action pertaining to food contact chemicals, materials, and/or articles in 2025; predominantly (i) phase-outs of PFAS in packaging and cookware, (ii) bans on polystyrene foam and other single-use food-service plastics, and (iii) extended-producer-responsibility (EPR) bills covering packaging
Reading time: 9 minutes
June 5, 2025
Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment aims to summarize US “childhood chronic disease crisis and any potential contributing causes”; Assessment mandated by Executive Order with additional recommendations and strategy forthcoming; part of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) project spearheaded by Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr.
Reading time: 5 minutes
