On March 21, 2015 the news provider Courthouse News Service reported that nine consumer groups requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban several substances used in food contact materials (FCMs). First, the FDA is being urged to amend a food additive regulation to no longer allow the use of three perfluoroalkyl ethyl containing substances as oil and water repellents for paper and paperboard in contact with food. Second, the groups asked FDA to ban potassium perchlorate that is used in gaskets for sealing food containers. Moreover, they require FDA to stop exempting sodium perchlorate monohydrate as a conductivity enhancer in antistatic agents for use in articles in contact with dry foods and issue a new regulation to ban the use of perchlorate in antistatic agents for use in food-contact articles. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), perchlorate may harm human health, as scientific studies indicate it can adversely affect thyroid function. The FDA is seeking comments specifically regarding the issuance of a new regulation to prohibit the use of perchlorate in antistatic agents. Electronic or written comments can be submitted by May 15, 2015.
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Courthouse News Service (March 21, 2015). “Groups seek ban of food container chemicals.”
U.S. FDA (March 2015). “Food additive and color additive petitions under review or held in abeyance.”
