Database sheds light on thousands of chemicals in food contact materials

Peer-reviewed study and freely available interactive tool provides systematic overview of food contact chemicals measured in migrates and extracts of food contact materials and articles

IPEN webinar: Food contact chemicals, EDCs, and policy opportunities

International Pollution Elimination Network (IPEN) webinar to explore chemicals in food contact materials, health threats of endocrine disrupting chemicals, and global policy opportunities; presentations will be available in English, Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish

UP Scorecard webinar shares resources, tips for eliminating toxic chemicals in packaging

Webinar on June 1, 2022, to share insights and new resources to help companies begin to better identify and address toxic chemicals present in foodware and food packaging; features expert speakers from five different food service companies and civil society organizations

Chemical migration into coffee, canned vegetables, and Indian curd

Three research studies investigate the occurrence of chemicals in food packaging and migration into food; find average of 330 µg oligoesters migrating from cans per kg drained vegetables; report most extractable chemicals from low-density polyethylene Dahi curd packaging not included in India’s positive list; detect low levels of phthalic acid esters in coffee obtained from single-use capsules

Virgin plastic production must be phased out, scientists say

Letter in Science argues capping virgin plastic production is the only way to address the plastic waste problem; even by changing to other materials, recycling, better waste management, etc. “annual plastic emissions to the environment can only be cut by 79% over 20 years”

EFSA CEP Panel updates from November 2021 to April 2022

Minutes available from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP Panel) working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, phthalates, and extraction solvents

Half of tested dollar store products contain chemicals of concern

The Ecology Center and the Campaign for Healthier Solutions find 53% of 226 tested products from US and Canadian dollar stores contain one or more chemicals of concern; PFAS in 100% of microwave popcorn, some pans and cookware; banned phthalates in PVC products

US FDA adds 11 substances to food contact inventory

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 11 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCNs) since February 2022

Third meeting of Swiss microplastics researchers

Scientists present and discuss ongoing projects and findings on microplastics; includes research focuses on environmental abundance and health

2022 buying green report finds interest in sustainable packaging is stable

Survey by Trivium Packaging of 15,000 consumers in Europe and the Americas finds demand for sustainable packaging remains high; 66% of respondents consider sustainable packaging materials important, 86% of consumers aged 18-44 willing to pay more for such products, 74% interested in buying refillable packaging; found purchasing behaviors aligned with values