European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes technical report outlining low tier risk assessment methodology for multiple regulated compounds with non-cancer effects; implements EFSA’s MIXTOX guidance document
EFSA assesses monomer for polycarbonate FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers dimethyl carbonate safe for making polycarbonate repeated-use food contact articles, under certain conditions
EFSA assesses 2 more PET recycling processes
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers PET made from recycling processes ‘EstPak Plastik’ and ‘Concept Plastic Packaging’ safe for use in food contact articles for all types of foodstuffs under certain conditions
FPF comments on EFSA opinion
The Food Packaging Forum submits comments to EFSA concerning its public consultation on the draft scientific opinion on risk assessment of chemicals in FCMs
European Commission responds to NGO letter on EDCs
Commission agrees with EFSA’s definition of EDCs and rejects criticism regarding EFSA’s independence
New safety assessment procedure for unknown NIAS
New safety assessment of unknown non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in food contact materials (FCM) presented
Non-target screening of silicone rubber extracts
Scientists perform non-target screening of compounds extracted from infant silicone teats; identify 140 compounds in 12 categories; more than a third of substances need safety evaluation
Report grades companies on responses to plastic pollution
Shareholder advocacy group As You Sow evaluates 50 largest US consumer-facing companies on their responses to address plastic pollution crisis; finds most companies too slow in adopting actions to prioritize packaging reduction and to promote reusability, recyclability, compostability; outlines key recommendations
Alternative food can linings
Campbell Soup Company introduces can linings made from acrylic or polyester containing no BPA; transition to non-BPA cans to be completed by mid 2017
Scientists investigate chemicals in plant-based materials
Review summarizes chemicals present in and migrating from food contact articles made with wood, bamboo, and other plant-based materials; researchers identify and quantify 25 non-volatile compounds from bamboo, palm leaf, wood and wheat pulp dishes; tentatively identify 115 non-volatile chemicals in extracts from six plant fiber/plastic composites; detect phthalates in Brazilian dry foods in cellulose-based packaging