German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes review article identifying lack of data on carcinogenic potential of less refined mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), recommends minimizing impurities in food
BfR publishes EU Food Safety Almanac
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes 5th edition of almanac; includes all the institutions in each EU Member State and ten neighboring countries responsible for food and feed safety, including packaging; provides diagram of institutional relationships and explains responsibilities of each institution
BfR statement on polyamide oligomers
German risk assessment institute evaluates migration of polyamide oligomers from kitchen utensils into food; exposure likely to exceed threshold of toxicological concern; call for more toxicity studies
BfR recommends lowering EU limits on heavy metals
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes position statement on specific migration limits for lead, cadmium, and cobalt from ceramic food contact materials; derives recommended limits up to 400 times lower than values allowed by current directive
BfR informs about mineral oil migration
German risk assessment institute answers frequently asked questions about mineral oil migration from cardboard food packaging, recommends using virgin fibers, mineral-oil-free printing inks, functional barriers
FCM analysis at BioDetectors conference 2018
11th BioDetectors conference addresses use of cell-based bioassays in food contact material safety analysis
EC study guides creation of sustainable-by-design criteria
European Commission (EC) releases study mapping current sustainability initiatives and research applicable to creating sustainable-by-design criteria; particular focus on materials and chemicals, including a section assessing nanomaterials; finds few policies related to the production phase of a material’s life cycle; next steps are to identify specific aspects of sustainability to be covered in the criteria and how to evaluate them
Reducing perchlorate in food
Communication by German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment addresses perchlorate in food, calls for reduction of perchlorate levels in food, omits intentional use in FCMs as significant exposure source
Migration from aluminum food containers
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment finds high release of aluminum ions from uncoated aluminum meal trays into acidic food simulants, recommends using different materials for heated food storage
BfR suggests a three step procedure for evaluating EDCs
BfR publishes a proposal for the evaluation of endocrine disrupting chemicals based on hazard identification, hazard characterization and subsequent regulator decision making