European Committee of the Regions (CoR) publishes resolution on European Green Deal; advocates against setting safe threshold levels for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), calls for a ban on bisphenols and phthalates in all food contact materials (FCMs)
Opinion: European Commission running behind on EDCs
Consumer groups urge European Commission to act on endocrine disruptors
Endocrine-active chemicals in baby bottles
Scientists test 65 chemicals migrating from โBPA-freeโ baby bottles in a panel of in vitro assays for effects on seven receptors; 12 chemicals show no activity, 53 activate or inhibit at least one of the tested receptors
Commission opens call for biochemical research
European Commission launches new research partnership, first call for research into bio-based materials
Update: More US states now ban PFAS in food packaging
Connecticut, Vermont, and Minnesota join set of US states that ban use of PFAS in food packaging; Vermont ban also implements a procedure for considering phase-out of bisphenols in food packaging; Minnesota bill funds study to find which products within the state contain PFAS; Governor of New Mexico call on US Environmental Protection Agency to list PFAS as hazardous waste
Best practice for chemicals in food packaging
Food Safety Alliance for Packaging publishes list of chemicals suggested to be replaced or minimized in food packaging โas a best practiceโ
Rare earth elements found in FCMs, recycled plastics
Researchers at University of Plymouth find rare earth elements in 24 of 31 tested products including childrenโs toys, food contact materials (FCMs); highest abundance in plastic recycled from electronic waste; authors suggest plastic recycling process as source for contamination; suggest elements as indicators for presence of other additives such as brominated flame retardants
Peer-reviewed study finds chemicals in plastics induce adipogenesis
Researchers analyze plastic extracts for their chemical composition and promotion of obesity; find one-third induce fat production (adipogenesis); detect several thousand chemicals in the extracts, including known metabolism-disrupting chemicals
FPF Workshop 2016: Enforcement, migration, and BPA
Enforcement of migration limits, industry standards, and research collaboration between regulators and academics to investigate BPAโs low-dose toxicity discussed at the FPF 2016 workshop
California to address chemicals in FCMs
State of Californiaโs Safer Consumer Products program considers assessing chemicals in food packaging within its 2018-2020 work plan