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Micro- and nanoplastics are released from different food contact articles

Researchers report cooking in non-stick Teflon cookware may lead to the release of thousands of micro- and nanoplastics; find 3 to 43 plastic particles prone to be released from Chinese polypropylene takeaway containers; detect around 1,500 microplastics/liter in Iranian bottled water; review points out that micro- and nanoplastic detection methods in food need validation and standardization

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Ecorys report on evaluation of FCM legislation

European Commission publishes final report developed by consultancy Ecorys on ongoing evaluation of food contact material (FCM) legislation; identifies lack of harmonization across many materials, incoherent risk management measures across legislation; finds that health benefits of the legislation outweigh it costs

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NGO calls to ban PFAS in food packaging

Environmental Working Group calls on U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging; cites report finding PFAS used in restaurant chain compostable paper bowls; PFAS manufacturer Chemours discontinues three products for PFAS food packaging coatings

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Benchmarking in vitro toxicity of plastics

Scientists investigate in vitro toxicity and chemical composition of plastic consumer products made of different polymers; high baseline toxicity of polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastics; food contact status does not necessarily imply lower toxicity

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What knowledge is missing to derive a microplastic threshold value?

Microplastic experts review mammalian in vivo effect studies and develop non-regulatory health-based screening level value for microplastics in drinking water; scientists provide research recommendations to better understand microplastic toxicity, effect levels, and potential health risks to humans and aquatic ecosystems; review discusses nanoplastics’ role in food allergy