Scientific study characterizes chemicals contained in 210 consumer products made of recycled or virgin material regarding identity, functional use, structural class, and origin and prioritizes chemicals; 65% of chemicals with greater concentrations in recycled materials, along with a higher number of flame retardants, biocides, dyes, and fragrances in recycled materials
European Parliamentarians host events on food packaging safety
EU Green Week 2023 includes panels discussing food packaging safety and plastics in a circular economy
Second episode of ‘Unwrapping Food Packaging’ video blog released
Food Packaging Forum publishes second episode of new video blog; discusses if low levels of chemicals migrating from food packaging are safe; introduces viewers to the concepts of non-monotonic dose response, endocrine disrupting chemicals, mixture toxicity, and timing of exposure
Recent innovations in packaging
Companies present paper-based packaging for alcoholic beverages, multipack cans; new designs and materials for better recyclability; more products reported to use 100% recycled plastics
PAAs in colored paper napkins
Scientists analyze primary aromatic amines in colored paper napkins from Europe; find sum PAA concentrations exceeding 10 µg/L limit, carcinogenic PAAs exceeding 2 µg/L limit; red, orange, yellow, and multi-colored napkins with highest load
Packaging stakeholder guidance on converting to reuse, using safer additives
Sustainable Packaging Coalition publishes guidance for converting to refillable or returnable packaging systems; CHEM Forward releases tool to help identify safer additives to use in plastic packaging
Parabens increase BPA exposure
Parabens inhibit several biotransformation enzymes involved in steroid hormone metabolism and chemical detoxification; study in mice shows that co-exposure with butyl paraben results in elevated internal levels of estradiol and BPA
Using ToxCast data to assess food chemicals
Scientists explore the utility of-throughput screening data for hazard assessment and toxicological read-across of food-relevant chemicals; observe some biological targets to lack validated toxicity associations; demonstrate application in identifying out-of-domain compounds
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
2024 food contact chemical and material policy outlook
Public and political concerns related to chemical exposures, human health, and environmental pollution continue to grow; brief overview of some of the EU, US, and UN policies and projects that FPF is tracking in 2024