FDA, Industry Actions End Sales of PFAS Used in Food Packaging
The FDA discontinues sales of PFAS in food packaging to reduce dietary exposure. Manufacturers commit to removing PFAS from items like fast-food wrappers, enhancing consumer safety and health protection through ongoing research and collaboration.
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the discontinuation of sales of grease-proofing materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for use in food packaging in the United States. This action eliminates a major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from items like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and take-out containers. PFAS are chemicals resistant to grease, oil, water, and heat, with some types linked to serious health effects. The FDA's evaluation of chemicals in food packaging aims to ensure safety for consumers. The voluntary commitment by manufacturers to stop selling PFAS-containing substances for grease-proofing in food packaging is a positive step towards protecting public health. The FDA will continue research and assessments to ensure risk determinations are based on current science, emphasizing its commitment to food chemical safety and consumer health. This effort highlights collaboration between the FDA and industry to achieve positive health outcomes and safeguard the public from potentially harmful food-contact chemicals.
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8 commentsThat contact layer would be one of a fairly small list of very well understood materials.
And we'd run multi-year animal studies with tens of thousands of animals to demonstrate safety of those materials.
(Unlike current studies which might just be 10 mice for 3 weeks)
It's a voluntary compliance on the part of manufacturers, spurred by FDA efforts.
...a voluntary commitment by manufacturers to not sell food contact substances containing certain PFAS intended for use as grease-proofing agents in the U.S.
It makes me wonder how they were getting away with using materials that weren't approved as food-grade in the first place. And also whether there's been significant development of substitute materials over the last few years and how much of a factor that was, outside of any implied FDA threats.
The Montreal Protocol worked so well because it told companies/countries to phase out what was already an old refrigerant and instead use a more modern and efficient r134a.
If someone invents something functionally identical to PFAS at a lower cost and without all the toxicity, you'll have a global protocal signed in a month with everyone eager greenwash their PR with how they stopped using PFAS. And consumers will be happy because they don't have to sacrifice an inch of quality of life.
https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-respo...
I looked up the manufacturer of these "compostable" containers and discovered they keep oils out of the cardboard with a PFA coating. PFA-laden compost, just what any gardener would want. /s
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