Public and political concerns related to chemical exposures, human health, and environmental pollution continue to grow; brief overview of some of the EU, US, and UN policies and projects that FPF is tracking in 2024
JRC Symposium compares microplastic analysis methods
European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) symposium summarizes current approaches for microplastic monitoring; research institutions present results of 4 inter-laboratory microplastic analysis comparison studies; no ‘one-size-fits-all’ analytical method, presenters emphasize need for harmonization; Commission outlines policy needs
SETAC North America 44th Annual Meeting
Study maps global uses of PFAS
Researchers publish peer-reviewed study identifying over 200 use categories and subcategories for more than 1,400 individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); finds the substances are used in almost all industry sectors and many consumer products; calls for public release of usage data
Researches develop and evaluate methods for food contact chemical determination
Propose method to analyze chemical markers of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from printing inks in food packaging; present workflow that includes in silico prediction tools to identify nonvolatile migrates from food packaging; evaluate efficiency and reliability of methodology for non-target identification of volatile substances
EFSA assesses 2 substances for intelligent and active FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers basic copper (II) carbonate and citric acid with sodium hydrogen carbonate safe for use in intelligent and active food contact materials under certain conditions
Non-BPA cans
Food company ConAgra removes BPA from its cans; non-profit organizations raise concern over safety of BPA-replacements and ask for removal of BPA from all food packaging
Conjugated BPA is biologically active
New study by Health Canada questions key assumption of bisphenol A risk assessment, shows obesogenic properties of allegedly “detoxified” food contact substance
Global Food Contact 2020 virtual conference
The 2020 edition of the Global Food Contact conference organized by Smithers will take place entirely online, be spread across four half-day sessions on July 14, 15, 21, and 23
Microplastics in supermarket fish
New United Nations report finds microplastic contamination in commercial fish and shellfish; more research needed to determine risks for human health