German Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR) recommending polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration of < 0.2 mg/kg in consumer products; criteria to inform voluntary safety standard
EFSA evaluates alkanamides mixture for use in FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers mixture of methyl-branched and linear C14–C18 alkanamides, derived from fatty acids, safe for use in for food contact materials under certain conditions
Scientists investigate chemicals in plant-based materials
Review summarizes chemicals present in and migrating from food contact articles made with wood, bamboo, and other plant-based materials; researchers identify and quantify 25 non-volatile compounds from bamboo, palm leaf, wood and wheat pulp dishes; tentatively identify 115 non-volatile chemicals in extracts from six plant fiber/plastic composites; detect phthalates in Brazilian dry foods in cellulose-based packaging
2023 FPF Workshop: Assessing and implementing safe and sustainable FCMs
In the afternoon of the Food Packaging Forum’s 11th annual workshop, speakers shared businesses experiences on the path towards more safe and sustainable food packaging; five talks and one panel discussion present opportunities, challenges, and case studies; representatives from several large international businesses shared approaches their organizations use to respond to safety and sustainability challenges; reusable packaging founders discuss the unique issues of changing the food packaging field
New research on chemical migration from plastic, paper, can coating, and reusables
Recent reports investigate whitening agents’ migration from disposable plastic containers; characterize 153 chemicals migrating from paper packaging and show estimated dietary exposure for children to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) exceed safety threshold; detect brominated flame retardants in repeat-use food contact articles; review metal can coating literature concerning coatings types, chemical migrants, detection methods, dietary exposure, and regulatory
Studies detect microplastics in food and link it to packaging, processing equipment
Several articles published since the beginning of 2023 have analyzed plastic particles in packaged foods and beverages, including salt, sugar, canned fish, bottled water, soft drinks, and cold tea; draw a connection to packaging and food processing; migration studies demonstrate particle release from plastic food containers and breastmilk storage bags; review develops 10 criteria for data quality assessment and find most studies “unreliable” on one or more criteria
Canadian Federal Court overrules government’s plastics toxicity label
Justice Angela Furlanetto deemed the Canadian Environment and Climate Change Department’s classification of manufactured plastics products as toxic unconstitutional; the federal government is appealing the decision; single use plastics ban is still in effect
BPA and behavioral problems in children
Canadian study finds correlation between increased levels of BPA and behavioral problems in children and adolescents
Final Canadian phthalate assessment in 2017
Canada modifies schedule for phthalate assessment, final assessments expected for 2017
Opinion: BPA exposure may not be sufficiently high to cause harm
Director of industry’s BPA coalition reviews BPA biomonitoring data, concludes that levels are safe but BPA replacements may be of interest