US federal court sides with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the use of perchlorate in food packaging; FDA’s 2017 denial of a citizen petition to regulate perchlorate in plastic food packaging “was neither arbitrary nor capricious… and did not violate the Food Act”
April 23, 2021
EDF’s advice for new FDA commissioner on chemicals
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) suggests how new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner can better address toxic chemicals in food; calls for systematic and regular reviews to update older assessments, follow Congressional mandate to consider cumulative effects, prohibit perchlorate, lead, and ortho-phthalates from food contact materials
June 22, 2020
US EPA rejects setting perchlorate limits in drinking water
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces that no federal limits will be set on perchlorate in drinking water; administration defends decision as necessary to remove overregulation, health advocates argue it is illegal and unscientific
June 8, 2020
Study warns of perchlorate effects
Scientists led by Vanderbilt University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine identify mechanism perchlorate uses to block iodine uptake in thyroid cells, argue pollution in drinking water more dangerous than previously thought
May 18, 2020
EFSA working group updates in April 2020
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published
May 1, 2020
US FDA defends authorization of perchlorate
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) files for judgment in its favor in ongoing court case with group of non-governmental organizations, argues perchlorate will not enter food supply at dangerous levels through dry food packaging
November 1, 2019
FDA sued over perchlorate petition rejection
Six U.S. NGOs file lawsuit against U.S. Food and Drug Administration over denial of earlier petition to ban perchlorate in FCMs; accuse FDA of ‘not protecting our health,’ call for petition reassessment
April 26, 2019
FDA denies hearing on perchlorate
U.S. Food and Drug Administration rejects request by nine NGOs to hold a public hearing challenging earlier decision on perchlorate in food packaging; requestors now considering legal options
March 21, 2019
Perchlorate from food packaging
Civil Eats discusses the existence of perchlorate in foods as well as upstream sources from packaging and processing; decision from U.S. Food and Drug Administration on allowed use still pending
