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What’s new in bioplastics?

12th annual European Bioplastics conference discusses food brand owners’ use of bioplastics, biodegradable solutions for multilayer food packaging, and production of new polymer PEF

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Switzerland: 25% of PVC lid gaskets exceed plasticizer migration limits

Swiss national campaign analyses 109 oily food samples packaged in glass jars on the compliance of migration of plasticizers from their lid gaskets; comparison with European campaigns conducted a decade ago shows similar proportion of non-compliant samples with non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-gasket; urges food businesses to pay more attention to the suitability of their products lids

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Several studies determine chemical migration from food packaging

Researchers from several European and Chinese institutions develop methods to explore chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs); report styrene migration from different polystyrene FCMs into several food matrices; detect photoinitiators in paper FCMs and chlorinated paraffins in green tea and its packaging; find irradiation treatment of metalized polypropylene to reduce migration of tested chemicals

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Virgin plastic production must be phased out, scientists say

Letter in Science argues capping virgin plastic production is the only way to address the plastic waste problem; even by changing to other materials, recycling, better waste management, etc. “annual plastic emissions to the environment can only be cut by 79% over 20 years”

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EFSA updates guidance on nanomaterials in the food chain

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) releases guidance documents on the technical requirements to establish the presence of small particles in food products, and how to perform risk assessments of nanomaterials in the food chain; includes migration of particles from food contact materials; agency reports on outcomes from the public consultation period

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EFSA working group updates from March to July 2021

Minutes from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel and working groups on food contact materials (FCMs), bisphenol A (BPA), recycling plastics, and phthalates