On August 10, 2021, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added 36 new chemicals to its Safer Chemical Ingredients List. According to the EPA, “chemicals on the List are among the safest for their functional use.” The safer chemicals list is divided by use-class, including colorants, solvents, and polymers, and is meant to provide stakeholders with the information necessary to “encourage the use of the safest possible chemistry.” The Food Packaging Forum’s Food Contact Chemicals database (FCCdb) lists 22 of the added chemicals as ones used in food contact materials, four of which are classified as “chemicals of potential concern.” Dibutyl adipate (CAS 105-99-7), trimethylolpropane diallyl ether (CAS 682-09-7), and diethylene glycol monophenyl ether (CAS 104-68-7) are predicted to be hazardous to human health, while sodium alginate (CAS 9005-38-3) is predicted to be hazardous to environmental health.
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EPA (August 10, 2021). “EPA Updates Safer Chemical Ingredients List.”
EPA (August 10, 2021). “Safer Chemical Ingredients List.”
EPA (June 10, 2021). “ How EPA Evaluates the Safety of Existing Chemicals.”
