Comparing EU and Chinese FCM policy

News provider and consultancy ChemLinked publishes article comparing Chinese and European food contact material (FCM) policies

Bio Suisse integrates chemical migration scoring

New framework scores 73 food packaging items for seven food and beverage types regarding their potential chemical migration; approach based on Food Packaging Forum databases, expert survey, general food-packaging interactions; results integrated in Bio Suisse packaging fact sheets

US Senate passes bills to increase recycling accessibility, data

United States Senate unanimously passes the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, Recycling and Composting Accountability Act; both receive wide support from industry and environmental groups; must pass House of Representatives to become national policy

Associations report European packaging recycling rates

Industry associations report recycling rates of packaging materials in Europe; average collection rate of glass bottles and jars hit 80% in 2020; paper packaging recycling over 80%; paper recycling rates close to theoretical maximum; plastic recycling has not increased despite increased demand by beverage companies; two-thirds of plastic-packaging pledges in Europe failed, supporting the change away from single-use likely necessary

Towards standardization of paper and cardboard sample preparation procedures

Scoping review assesses state-of-the-art of paper and cardboard food packaging safety assessment; maps sample preparation approaches, challenges, and factors influencing chemical migration; provides guidance to develop and evaluate standardized sample preparation methods

Food packaging leachates impact gut microbiome and metabolites

Scientists explore the impact of long-term oral exposure of mammals to food packaging leachates on gut microbiome diversity, composition, and metabolites; report changes in gut microbiota and metabolites mainly associated with oxidative stress, immunity, and inflammatory responses

Scientists identify food packaging as organophosphate ester source

Scientists establish organophosphate esters (OPEs) baseline concentration in foodstuff across China and investigate the contamination sources; report extensive contamination of Chinese foodstuff with OPEs; uncover food packaging as source of these OPEs

Researchers detect chemicals present in and migrating from PET bottles

Two studies analyze polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chemicals; identify several volatile chemicals present in and migrating from new PET bottles as well as from bottles commercially available in Japan; develop online method for quantifying non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)

Styrene concentrations in German and Italian refrigerated dairy products

Scientists assess styrene levels in polystyrene food packaging, migration into refrigerated dairy products, in 50% ethanol, as well as factors influencing migration; report styrene migration of 5 to 30 µg/kg food at the best before date; find food contact area, temperature and time rather than fat content influence styrene migration

China publishes new and revised FCM standards

National Health Commission publishes updated paper and board food contact material (FCM) standard; includes changes to migration testing protocol; new bamboo and wood FCM standard