On August 6, 2021, Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Preventing Harmful Exposure to Phthalates Act into the United States Senate and Representatives Ted Lieu and Katie Porter introduced it to the House of Representatives. If the bill survives review in both the Senate and the House, then two years after enactment “the use of any ortho-phthalate chemical as a food contact substance shall be deemed to be unsafe.” Additionally, within the first year of enactment, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would need to conduct a review of all products other than food regulated by the Administration, such as cosmetics and medical equipment, “to determine whether such products lead to exposure of the general public to any ortho-phthalate chemical through use of such products.”
The Act cites the negative consequences of prenatal exposure to phthalates (FPF reported here and here) and the ability of phthalates “to leach into food from plastic equipment, such as tubing used in commercial dairy operations, lid gaskets, food preparation gloves, conveyor belts, and food packaging materials” (FPF reported, also here and here) as findings in support of the legislation. The bill is supported by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Endocrine Society.
Read More
Representative Ted Lieu (August 6, 2021). “H.R.4963 – To ban the use of ortho-phthalate chemicals as food contact substances.” Congress.gov
Senator Dianne Feinstein (August 6, 2021). “S.2669 – A bill to ban the use of ortho-phthalate chemicals as food contact substances.” Congress.gov
Office of Sen. Feinstein (August 6, 2021). “Feinstein, Gillibrand, Lieu, Porter Introduce Bill to Protect Consumers from Toxic Phthalate Chemicals in Food Supply.”
