On September 18, 2018, the U.S. non-profit organization Safer Chemicals, Health Families (SCHF) announced that it has added twelve new retailers to its annual ranking of companies’ efforts to use safer chemicals in the products they sell. The retailer report card is part of SCHF’s Mind the Store campaign and evaluates retailers’ actions “to eliminate toxic chemicals, substitute them with safer alternatives, and develop comprehensive safer chemicals policies.” The first report card was published in November 2016, ranking eleven companies (FPF reported); the second round was finalized in November 2017 and included 30 retailers (FPF reported).
The twelve new retailers are: Nordstrom, 99 Cents Only, Aldi (Aldi Sud), Loblaws, Publix, Sobeys, McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Restaurant Brands International (Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons), Starbucks, Subway, and Yum! Brands (KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell). “We are including restaurant and fast food chains for the first time given the prevalence of chemicals like PFAS [(per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)], phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging and the food supply,” SCHF informed. “These chains can play an important role in getting these hazardous chemicals out of food,” the organization added. The 2018 retailer report card will be published by the end of the year.
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Mike Schade (September 18, 2018). “Annual retailer report card will rank a dozen new companies this fall.” SCHF
Leigh Stringer (September 18, 2018). “U.S. NGO adds 12 companies to retailer ranking campaign.” Chemical Watch
