Regulations governing the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continue to evolve. In California, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) announced the addition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one type of PFAS, to the list of chemicals established under the state's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a constituent update about the results of tests for PFAS in food. The study purportedly found that 89 of 92 food samples "had no detectable levels of PFAS"; the three that contained the substance were seafood—tilapia, cod and shrimp. "To date, there have been 10 samples with detectable PFAS out of 532 [Total Diet Study (TDS)] samples the FDA has tested since 2019," the update notes. "Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no scientific evidence that the levels of PFAS found in the TDS…
Tag Archives PFAs
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the results of a study on the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in processed foods, including baby foods. Out of 167 samples, three products had detectable levels of PFAS, the agency stated, and the amounts were not elevated to a level of concern. "Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no scientific evidence that the levels of PFAS found in the samples tested indicate a need to avoid any particular food in the food supply." “The FDA’s testing for certain PFAS in such a wide range of foods available, including those commonly eaten by babies and young children, is among the first study of its kind,” said Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock in a press release. “Although our studies to date, including these newly released results, do not suggest that there is any need to avoid particular…
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has announced that it intends to add perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) to the list of substances known to cause cancer or reproductive harm under the state's Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65). PFOA, known as a "forever chemical," can be found in nonstick surfaces and food packaging, among other items. OEHHA will accept comments on the determination until May 3, 2021.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released its assessment of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—a group of chemicals that can be found in food and food packaging—and their potential risks to human health. The agency has set the threshold for a group tolerable weekly intake of 4.4 nanograms per kilogram of body weight. EFSA noted that its 2018 assessment considered an increase in cholesterol as the main critical effect of PFAS, but the experts in the 2020 assessment "considered the decreased response of the immune system to vaccination to be the most critical human health effect."
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that several manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have agreed to phase out the use of the material on food packaging, such as fast-food wrappers, to-go boxes and pizza boxes. The phase-out will begin in January 2021 and will occur over three years, with an additional 18 months anticipated to exhaust existing stocks of paper and paperboard products containing PFAS. The announcement coincides with a report from Toxic-Free Future purportedly finding PFAS in the packaging of several restaurants.
The New York legislature has passed SB 8817, which would prohibit "the distribution, sale, and offer for sale in New York" any food packaging that contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as "intentionally added chemicals." "Food packaging is a key place to look for PFAS chemicals, as they often include non-stick components to repel grease. PFAS chemicals in food packaging can enter a human's bloodstream by leaching into food that is consumed, as well as find its way into the environment through disposal," states the bill's justification. "This bill would ban the entire class of PFAS chemicals from food packaging containers used in New York. Washington State signed similar legislation into law in April 2018. In order to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers, we must take an aggressive approach by prohibiting the use of all PFAS chemicals in food packaging."
Denmark has reportedly passed a law that will ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from cardboard and paper used for food packaging. "These substances represent such a health problem that we can no longer wait for the EU," Denmark's food minister is quoted as saying. Recycled paper may continue to be used if the PFAS compounds are separated from food with a barrier. PFAS compounds have come under scrutiny in both the United States and Europe as agencies research the effects of consuming the substances.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a statement on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food following a presentation published in the media that indicated the agency found the substances in meat, fish and chocolate. "Overall, our findings did not detect PFAS in the vast majority of the foods tested," the statement reads. "In addition, based on the best available current science, the FDA does not have any indication that these substances are a human health concern, in other words a food safety risk in human food, at the levels found in this limited sampling. These data give our scientists a benchmark to use as we continue our critical work studying this emerging area of science."
U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) has introduced legislation that would "ban the use of toxic perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) in food containers and cookware." The Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authority to deem PFAS chemicals in food containers as unsafe by 2022. “We already know the double cheeseburger and fries are not the most healthy meal, but no one suspects the dangerous chemicals seeping into your food from the wrapper or food containers," Dingell is quoted as saying in a press release. "This important legislation ensures unsafe, hazardous chemicals are not allowed near the food we eat.”
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released an opinion proposing a revision to tolerable intakes of per- and polyfluoroalykl substances (PFAS), which food packaging can contain. The authors reportedly observed high levels of PFAS in “meat and meat products” as well as “fish and other seafood.” In addition, PFAS was “detected in blood samples of almost all individuals assessed, demonstrating ubiquitous exposure.”
