Consumer Reports tests 118 food packaging products from 24 US fast food and grocery chains; finds PFAS in over half of the products; nearly one third of packaging products contain over 20 ppm and 22 over 100 ppm organic fluorine; several brands commit or re-commit to removing intentionally added PFAS from their packaging
EFSA evaluates 2 PET recycling processes
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers FCMs made from post-consumer PET recycling processes ‘Sumilon Eco PET SARL’ and ‘ITD’ safe for contact with all types of foodstuffs
EC publishes Circular Economy Action Plan
European Commission’s new plan includes specific aims to simplify packaging materials, reduce unnecessary packaging use, set mandatory requirements for recycled content, remove hazardous chemicals from product life cycles; timelines for individual initiatives published
US FDA adds 15 substances to food contact inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 15 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCNs) since October 2021; FDA proposes update to procedure to determine when FCNs are no longer effective; update open for comment until April 11, 2022
Consumer exposure to PFAS in food packaging
Silent Spring Institute publishes report investigating PFAS exposure, finds consuming home-cooked meals reduces exposure compared to restaurant consumption; U.S. state of Washington to focus on paper wraps and liners during alternatives assessment; U.S. presidential candidate pledges to label substance class as hazardous substances
EFSA works towards open scientific assessments
EFSA publishes editorial about its current work on risk assessment methodologies
EFSA conference 2018: Values in risk assessment
Opening session at EFSA conference 2018 addresses recognition and management of values in risk assessment and decision making, discusses factors important for fit-for-purpose risk assessment
EFSA study: Bioaccumulation and toxicity of mineral oils
New EFSA scientific study tests different mixtures of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), relevant to human diet, in rats; bioaccumulation at low dose MOSH exposure in humans possibly underestimated; MOSH appear persistent in adipose tissue
Successful packaging initiatives require more than changing materials
Consulting company Gartner Inc. predicts 90% of sustainable packaging commitments will not be met by 2025
Report: European supermarkets falling short on packaging commitments
Changing Markets Foundation and Break Free From Plastic investigate plastic pollution related actions made by 74 of the largest European supermarkets; Total average score of retailers was just 13/100, only Aldi UK and Aldi Ireland scored above 60; over 80% of companies had no information on total plastic use which “casts doubt” over plastic reduction pledges because there is no baseline data