Scientific perspectives article discusses current gaps in assessment and regulation of chemicals in food by U.S. FDA, illustrates problems with perchlorate example, calls for immediate action to protect child health
No regulation on food packaging in Australia and New Zealand
Food Standards Australia New Zealand will not regulate chemicals in food packaging, instead prepares non-regulatory guidelines with industry
Public consultation on marine litter and single-use plastics
EU Commission seeks feedback regarding actions on single-use plastics to reduce marine litter; consultation open until February 12, 2018
FSANZ: No risk from food packaging chemicals
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) completes assessment of chemical migration from packaging into food, finds exposures ‘low and unlikely to pose a public health and safety concern,’ plans to develop information guide for businesses to support risk management
Opinion: More recycling won’t fix plastic problem
Opinion article by The Guardian highlights human health impact of plastic pollution, calls for reducing plastic production and banning classes of hazardous chemicals
Chinese database on hazardous chemicals
China’s National Registration Centre for Chemicals introduces platform that can be searched for information on hazardous chemicals; available in Chinese
“New” endocrine disruptors identified
Danish researchers produce list of 9 “new” endocrine disrupting chemicals identified according to EU EDC criteria; some substances relevant for food contact
ECHA adds 8 chemicals to SVHC Candidate List
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) updates the Candidate List for substances of very high concern (SVHCs); four out of eight new candidates are food contact chemicals: glutaral, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins, 1,4-dioxane, and 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde and its individual stereoisomers; 219 substances now on the SVHC Candidate List
BEF Germany brochure on FCMs and chemicals
Non-governmental organization Baltic Environmental Forum Germany (BEF) publishes brochure providing general introduction and overview of hazardous chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs), common material types, tips for reducing exposure
Contaminants migrate from pipes into drinking water worldwide
Review summarizes the scientific knowledge on five groups of contaminants migrating from drinking water distribution systems into tap water; reports microplastics, bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, nonylphenol (NP), per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detected in tap water and may stem from pipes and reservoirs; finds pipe material type largely influences contaminant migration