Packaging food safety concerns include the materials of construction for packaging and all food contact surfaces, as well as the labeling information on the packaging.
Earthjustice sued FDA on behalf of consumer advocates that previously petitioned FDA to revoke food contact authorizations for 28 phthalates, and were denied. Although FDA since revoked authorizations for many of those phthalates and says the rest are under review, the plaintiffs hope their lawsuit will force a long-overdue safety reassessment.
On December 19, the European Commission officially adopted a sweeping ban on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA), as well as some other bisphenols considered harmful, in all food contact materials. Industry will be allowed an 18-month transition period.
Researchers have estimated a global economic cost of $1.5 trillion per year associated with three toxic chemicals commonly found in plastics and food contact materials—BPA, DEHP, and PBDEs—due to premature deaths, chronic diseases, and lower IQs.
Penn State Extension is offering a new online course to teach participants about the key elements and impact of food packaging. A continuing education unit is available upon completion of the course.
A report by the European Court of Auditors has identified “notable gaps” in the EU legal framework around food labeling and enforcement of regulations, and offered recommendations for improvement.
Companies W-Cycle Ltd. and Melhoramentos have joined forces to produce compostable food packaging made from renewable materials that naturally decompose within 100 days.
In an effort to reduce food waste caused by consumer confusion, and following new legislation passed in California standardizing the use of “Best By” dates on food, USDA and FDA have issued a joint request for information about industry practices, consumer perceptions, and impacts related to food date labeling.
On December 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will hold an educational webinar for regulators and industry about food labeling and allergen labeling requirements.
In the debut installment of the Food Safety Five Newsreel, we discuss an ongoing multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli infections linked to onions served at McDonald’s restaurants. The episode also takes a look at legislation passed in California that marks the country’s first mandatory food date labeling reforms.
XENON’s new stainless steel washdown lamp housing is powered by Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) -based PUREPULSE technology, providing an eco-friendly and effective sanitization solution for food packaging processes.
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