On the morning of the Food Packaging Forum’s 11th annual workshop, speakers share processes to measure sustainable food packaging while accounting for multiple concerns; three speakers share findings from developing frameworks to make packaging safer, account for tradeoffs, and reduce plastic packaging use; three speakers share how policy is developed at the United Nations and European Union
PFAS detected in European disposable food packaging
Coalition of civil society organizations samples paper food packaging articles from major fast-food chains and supermarkets across six European countries; chemical analysis finds 32 articles were intentionally treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); differences identified among countries, results show the currently few national regulations on PFAS are effective where they are in place
Perfluorinated compounds might increase miscarriage risk
Study finds strong significant associations between serum concentrations of several perfluorinated alkylated substances and miscarriage risk in Danish women
EU Parliament debates EDCs
Scientific criteria for endocrine disrupting chemicals will be out before the summer 2016, says EU Commissioner during plenary debate
EFSA evaluates glass fiber sizing component for FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propyl]trimethoxy silane safe for making glass-fiber-reinforced plastic food contact materials under certain conditions
New study shows novel effects of low dose BPA exposures
Early life exposures to low doses of BPA studied in mice and linked to significant dose-dependent changes in animals’ biochemical response
Commission publishes EDC criteria
European Commission proposes strongly science-based criteria to identify endocrine disruptors, endorses WHO definition, and publishes impact assessment on EDC criteria
Opinion: Obsogens play important role in widespread obesity
Scientist asserts in lifestyle journal that consumer chemicals are culprit of increased obesity
Canada identifies four parabens for toxic substances list
Government publishes draft screening assessment of 7 parabens, identifies 4 to present danger to human health or environment at current levels of exposure; proposed risk management published; findings open for public comment until May 13, 2020
“Redbook” to be updated
US FDA will update “Toxicological Principles for the Safety Assessment of Food Ingredients”; publishes report on chemical evaluation process