Scientists integrate and interpret data from 8 of the 14 academic studies completed under the CLARITY-BPA project; link bisphenol A (BPA) exposure to impacts across multiple organs including brain, heart, prostate, mammary gland, ovaries; strengthen confidence in low-dose effects of BPA; co-authors to present results in webinar on July 21, 2020
EU: New Circular Economy Package
European Commission adopts new Circular Economy Package; strategy on plastic recyclability, biodegradability, and presence of hazardous chemicals proposed
Opinion: Balancing EDC effects against commercial interests
Science editorial reports on EDCs, consensus on type and strength of evidence needed, balancing industry interests against health effects suggested
FPF comments on proposed amendments to EU regulations on food contact plastics
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) critiques the European Commission’s proposed amendments to regulations on food contact plastics; says suggested threshold for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) lacks scientific evidence; supports enhanced specifications for migration testing
Hazardous chemicals in European products: new SCIP database
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches database of all notifications from EU companies of products containing Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs); contains over 4 million article notifications from 6000 companies; includes articles such as food processors; Swedish Chemicals Agency launches pilot project to identify potentially hazardous chemicals early in product design process
FPF celebrates a decade committed to food packaging safety
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) celebrates ten years of independent research on food packaging, chemicals, and health to help guide evidence-based dialogue across all levels of the food and packaging supply chain; FPF remains committed to reviewing and communicating complex scientific information with the aim of safeguarding human health and the environment into its next decade
Coca-Cola to continue using plastic bottles
Company head of sustainability speaks at World Economic Forum; says customers like plastic packaging, instead plans to increase bottle recycling by 2030
More retailers commit to safer chemicals
Non-profit organization Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families publishes second annual ranking of retailers’ safer chemicals programs; 10 out of 30 retailers take adequate action on toxic chemicals
Compliance throughout the food packaging supply chain
Food makers Wrigley and Nestlé highlight need to check compliance of food packaging throughout the supply chain
Testing finds antimony in common beverages bottled in PET
Study carried out by Defend Our Health detects antimony above safe levels in 40% of tested beverages sold in PET bottles; antimony widely used as a catalyst to produce PET; calls on manufacturers to switch to widely available safer chemical alternatives, address the numerous hazardous substances that can migrate from plastics into food, chemical pollution in communities surrounding production sites