Taiwanese Environmental Protection Agency developing screening and assessment standards for identification of substances with food safety concerns, high hazard levels, high production volumes; draft list to be released by end of 2019
US FDA wants to strengthen post-market review of food contact substances
Following multiple reports of trouble within the food branch of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022, agency is beginning to implement structural changes to review food contact substances already on the market
FDA dismisses food packaging as SARS-CoV-2 exposure route
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes statement that proclaims no scientific evidence for SARS-CoV-2 transmission via contaminated food or food packaging
Study identifies chemicals driving semen quality deterioration
Scientists perform mixture risk assessment on 29 chemicals capable of affecting semen quality; show exposure to chemicals that lead to declined semen quality highly exceed tolerable daily intake in Europe; identify bisphenols, polychlorinated dioxins, paracetamol, and phthalates as risk drivers
Assessing risks of hydrophobic chemicals
Scientists argue that water-focused assessment schemes may misjudge risks of hydrophobic chemicals; sediments, particles, exposure through diet additionally play an important role; contribution of microplastics and nanoplastics uncertain but likely low
Manmade vs. natural estrogens
Article in Nature Reviews highlights different effect potential of manmade vs. natural estrogens in the case of soy and bisphenol A in a study with women undergoing in vitro fertilization
Diabetes: 422 million cases worldwide
Diabetes prevalence has increased worldwide between 1980 and 2014, according to new WHO study; article discusses range of chemicals potentially linked to diabetes and obesity
Artificial photosynthesis for making bioplastics?
US scientists develop new artificial photosynthesis system that can convert carbon dioxide into chemical products, potentially including biodegradable plastics
U.S. Representatives urge action on phthalates
U.S. Representatives send letter to U.S. FDA and Consumer Product Safety Commission
Media coverage
The Food Packaging Forum in the media: a selection of articles