Inspectors from Nordic countries examine 361 products ordered online for compliance with various EU chemicals legislation; find 53% non-compliant, higher rate of non-compliance for products sold by companies outside of EU; lead, short chain chlorinated paraffins, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) detected most often
EDC criteria and trade implications
EU Health Commissioner Andriukaitis meets with ambassadors from North and South America, asserts that EU EDC criteria will address concerns over possible trade restrictions
EFSA assessment of substance for food preparation surfaces
Panel publishes safety assessment of ‘phosphoric acid, mixed esters with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate’; finds no safety concern when used as co-monomer up to set concentration, often used in manufacture of kitchen sinks and countertops
Food Contact Regulations USA 2021
U.S. grocer plans packaging chemical restrictions
Ahold Delhaize USA to restrict chemicals of concern from private label products across all stores; targets chemicals including PFAS, BPA, phthalates; plans to increase testing to ensure compliance and partner with suppliers to identify contamination sources
Scientists are speaking out
National Geographic reports on why scientists increasingly engage in environmental and public health debates
Substitution analysis for plastic packaging
Life cycle assessment study commissioned by American Chemistry Council finds packaging plastics to have more favorable environmental profile than alternatives made of glass, metal, paper, textile, wood
McDonald’s to trial new packaging
Two Canadian concept restaurant locations to trial new packaging including fully re-pulpable cups, fiber lids, wooden cutlery, paper straws; items could be rolled out widely in the future
Chemical characterization of post-consumer and recycled plastics
Scientists perform target and non-target screening of recycled plastics and provide recommendations on methods; detect >280 organic chemicals and metals in 21 plastic flakes and pellets used in recycling; analyze several recycled polymers and find polyethylene terephthalate (PET) the only one currently complying with European circular economy requirements; compare analytical methods to assess the chemical composition of recyclates giving their strenghts and limitations
BPA and fetal malformations in humans
Italian researchers showed that mother’s reduced ability to metabolize BPA may be associated with fetal malformations