The Baltic Environmental Forum Germany (BEF) has published a brochure providing an overview of hazardous chemicals that can be present in food contact materials (FCMs) and migrate into food. Part of the organization’s NonHazCity project, the brochure aims to provide readers with an overview on the topic to be better informed about how they can avoid exposure to hazardous substances. The organization writes in the brochure “our view is that the current EU and national FCM legislation is not sufficient to protect us from damages to our health. Therefore, until the political landscape reacts and puts into force stricter exposure limits, we can only protect ourselves by knowing which FCMs are better to avoid.”

The brochure introduces readers to the fundamental functions of food packaging, the concept of migration from FCMs, and potential health effects of hazardous chemicals that can be present. Specifically, it introduces phthalates, bisphenols, adhesives, mineral oil hydrocarbons, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and further discusses how to avoid them in food packaging. The brochure also provides an introduction to common FCM types with general tips for each.

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BEF (2020). “Heiss, Fettig, Giftig – weniger gefährliche Chemikalien in unserer Küche.” (pdf, in German)

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