Food Navigator USA article addresses food additive system criticism, states the analysis lacks differentiation
Predicting the safety of food contact articles: New science and digital opportunities
The 2018 annual Food Packaging Forum (FPF) Workshop featured high profile speakers and offered an ideal platform for exchanging views with different stakeholders in the field of food contact materials (FCMs). The FPF also provided access to a live webcast of this year’s workshop for a minimal registration fee. Participants who could not attend the workshop in person, thus still had the opportunity to follow the speaker presentations, Q&As, and the podium discussion. The FPF Workshop is a one-of-a-kind event […]
Degradation of compostable plastics can increase toxicity, scientists emphasize
Studies analyze biodegradable – including compostable – plastics for their in vitro toxicity and chemical composition; comparison with conventional plastics indicates higher toxicity of compostables which further increases with photodegradation and composting; detect brominated flame retardants in “biodegradable”-labeled food packaging
Foodwatch: German draft mineral oil ordinance not protective enough
Foodwatch criticizes new draft of German mineral oil ordinance; requests lower SML for MOAH, mandatory functional barriers for all paper and board food packaging, strict limit levels for MOSH and MOAH in food
Third round of UN plastics treaty negotiations conclude
Meeting in Nairobi ends with no consensus on intersessional work needed before next meeting; Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty represented by 37 scientists, including team members from the Food Packaging Forum; expanded and revised version of Zero Draft based on member state inputs to be published by December 31, 2023; next round of negotiations to take place in Ottawa, Canada on April 21 – 30, 2024
Studies report on bisphenol exposure and health effects
Review summarizes plastic-associated bisphenol A (BPA) sources, exposure, and human health risks; dietary bisphenol exposure via packaged food consumption in Saudi Arabia is potential human health concern; review discusses bisphenols’ effects on the cardiovascular system and recommends human-relevant studies with bisphenols other than BPA; consensus scoring analysis identifies endocrine-disrupting food contact chemicals potentially interacting with nuclear receptors
BfR statement on bamboo cups and tableware
German institute for risk assessment publishes position statement on melamine-formaldehyde resins, including tableware made with bamboo fibers; warns consumers against using such tableware with hot liquids; recommends lowering specific migration limit of formaldehyde in EU regulation from 15 to 6 mg/kg
Draft toxicity assessment for GenX and PFBS
U.S. EPA releases draft toxicity assessments for fluorinated substances ‘GenX chemicals’ and PFBS used as replacements for PFOA and PFOS; public comments accepted for 60 days after publication in Federal Register
DG SANTÉ consults with stakeholders
Directorate General Health and Food Safety holds first stakeholder meeting under new Commission leadership; amendment to Plastics Regulation, plastics recycling and Biocides Regulation discussed; changes to working group announced
"Zero-waste" retailers
The Huffington Post reports on U.S. grocery stores offering only bulk, unpackaged food and household products to reduce food and packaging waste