On August 16, 2018, the industry association American Chemistry Council (ACC) published a response to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report on food additives and child health. The AAP published a technical report and a policy statement on the topic on July 23, 2018, in the peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics (FPF reported). The AAP authors addressed emerging child health concerns (e.g., endocrine disruption) relating to the use of chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs) and other substances used in food.
In response, the ACC stated: “Unfortunately, the [AAP] report has created the false idea that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not doing enough to ensure the safety of the products Americans use and consume.” However, “[t]he fact is that all food packaging materials are regulated by FDA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act)” and “FDA regulations are comprehensive and science-based,” the ACC asserted.
The ACC further highlighted the “importance of modern food packaging,” explaining that it is “essential to the quality and integrity of food, extends shelf life and helps in the safe transport and storage of food.” Also, the ACC compiled a “myth and fact sheet,” addressing U.S. food packaging regulations, chemical migration, endocrine disruption, bisphenol A, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), plastics, and other topics, “to help provide facts about the issue.”
In September 2017, the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) published a commentary article in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives providing an overview of the key scientific challenges in the risk assessment of FCMs (FPF reported).
Read more
ACC Blog (August 16, 2018). “Setting the record straight: Response to American Academy of Pediatrics report.”
Kelly Franklin (July 30, 2018). “Industry groups defend FCMs following U.S. pediatrics report.” Chemical Watch
American Chemistry (November 15, 2018). “Open letter to the editor – Pediatrics – re: Food Additives and Child Health.” American Chemistry Matters Blog
American Chemistry (January 9, 2019). “What the American Academy of Pediatrics report got wrong about PFAS in food packaging.”
References
Trasande, L., et al. (2018). “Food additives and child health. Policy statement.” Pediatrics (published online July 23, 2018).
Trasande, L., et al. (2018). “Food additives and child health. Technical report.” Pediatrics (published online July 23, 2018).
Muncke, J., et al. (2017). “Scientific challenges in the risk assessment of food contact materials.” Environmental Health Perspectives (published online September 11, 2017).
