ADI ADI refers to the “Acceptable Daily Intake” and describes the amount of a substance that any individual can safely consume over a life time without it posing an appreciable/inacceptable health risk. The concept is used for substances such as additives, pesticide residues or veterinary drugs. In the US, the FDA also uses the concept for food contact materials. Benzophenone Benzophenone (CAS 119-61-9) is an organic compound which is used as a photoinitiator in printing inks applied to food […]
BPA shown to disrupt sperm development
U.S. researchers show that brief exposures to BPA and other estrogens early in life can alter the stem cells involved in sperm production years later
JRC proposes improved testing strategies
EU’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes study identifying chemical testing strategies that require fewer tests, reduce need for animal testing; based on data on biocide and plant protection products, could be expanded for use across other product types
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 ‘as a best practice’
Rare earth elements found in FCMs, recycled plastics
Researchers at University of Plymouth find rare earth elements in 24 of 31 tested products including children’s 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 BPA’s low-dose toxicity discussed at the FPF 2016 workshop
California to address chemicals in FCMs
State of California’s Safer Consumer Products program considers assessing chemicals in food packaging within its 2018-2020 work plan
Update: Circular Plastic Alliance delivers first actions
European Commission (EC) announces first delivered actions of its Circular Plastics Alliance; identifies 19 priority plastic products, current overview of European waste sorting and collection