In an article published on February 20, 2018 in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), journalist Nate Seltenrich discussed the Food Packaging Forum’s recent commentary on “Scientific challenges in the risk assessment of food contact materials,” published in the same journal (FPF reported). Seltenrich recapped the publication’s key recommendation to assess the toxicity of all food contact chemicals (FCCs) that may potentially migrate from the finished food contact article (FCA).
Further, Seltenrich cited food contact experts on their views regarding these suggestions. Mark Maier, former toxicologist at Valspar, agrees with testing the overall migrate of the finished FCA (in the case of Valspar can coatings (FPF reported)). However, he disagrees that all FCCs should be tested, as the focus should be on “plausible effects for relevant classes of chemicals at relevant exposure levels.” In contrast, independent consultant Maricel Maffini (co-author of FPF commentary) highlighted that in the U.S., “if a company claims that exposure will be below a certain level, the company may not be required to provide any toxicity info.”
Read more
Nate Seltenrich (February 20, 2018). “What’s in the mix? Improving risk assessment of food contact materials.” Environmental Health Perspectives
Reference
Muncke, J. et al. (2017). “Scientific challenges in the risk assessment of food contact materials.” Environmental Health Perspectives (published online September 11, 2017).
