VKM identifies most critical food contaminants to monitor in Norway

Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) provides guidance for risk-based monitoring of chemicals in foods previously identified as a potential concern; includes chemicals from food packaging and processing equipment

ECHA identifies 34 bisphenols for group restriction

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommends 34 bisphenols be classified as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) as a group; three of the bisphenols already individually classified as SVHCs; for some bisphenols, more data necessary before classification; group classification can help avoid regrettable substitution

Rite Aid expands chemical policy to include FCMs

Drug store chain Rite Aid expands its chemicals policy to cover food contact materials (FCMs); restricted substances list sets concentration limits, does not allow intentional use in food packaging of various heavy metals, all ortho-phthalates, all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Maine FCC priority list open for comments

Maine Department of Environmental Protection publishes list of ten food contact chemicals (FCCs) of high concern, follows state’s Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging legislation; includes bisphenols, parabens, benzophenone, 4-octyl phenol, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, toluene, styrene, benzene methylenedianiline, nonylphenol; open for comments until March 10, 2021

Canada proposes grouping BPA analogues, alternatives

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada (HC) propose grouping 343 bisphenol A (BPA) structural analogues and functional alternatives under Chemicals Management Plan; request feedback on selection method and grouping until February 17, 2021

California identifies candidate substance groups

Department of Toxic Substances Control announces candidate groups of substances used in food packaging to be priority products under Safe Consumer Products program; includes BPA and alternatives, PFAS, and ortho-phthalates; two additional workshops scheduled in November and January to discuss chemicals, answer open questions

Study on BPS, BPF, and obesity

Researchers investigate urinary concentrations of bisphenols A, S, and F in relation to body mass in children and adolescents; results suggest correlation with obesity; authors recommend caution when interpreting results, call for future monitoring

Documentary on EDCs in food packaging

New documentary explains endocrine disruption, highlights presence of endocrine disruptors in food packaging, presents possible solutions to reduce exposure

BPA substitutes and chromosomal abnormalities

Mice exposed to low doses of BPA, BPS, diphenyl sulfone, BPF, BPAF exhibit chromosomal abnormalities that persist for several generations, according to new study in Current Biology

Ban of BPA substitutes

New York City plans to extent current bisphenol A ban by prohibiting 6 BPA substitutes in children’s products