‘Forever chemicals’ will no longer be used in US food packaging, according to the FDA
Certain types of chemicals used to “grease-proof” food packaging in the U.S. will no longer be sold for use, according to the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday. The “forever chemicals,” also known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, contain hormone-disrupting agents that can persist in the human body as well as the environment.
PFAS are man-made chemicals often used in food packaging materials like microwave popcorn bags, takeout pizza boxes, and fast food wrappers. PFAS have been linked to a variety of health effects including changes in immune and liver function, obesity, diabetes, certain cancers and lower birth weights.
“This means the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from food packaging like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers and pet food bags is being eliminated,” Jim Jones, deputy commissioner for Human Foods at the FDA, said in a press release.
PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been dubbed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily and persist in the environment for a long time. They are used across a variety of industries around the world: The diverse group of thousands of chemicals have been used to reduce friction in applications from cookware to aerospace technology.
Jones tells ABC News he considers this decision a “win” for public health thanks to the agency’s research and leadership and industry-wide cooperation.
“In 2020, the FDA engaged companies to cease sales of grease-proofing substances that contain certain types of PFAS following our post-market safety assessment. The research FDA scientists conducted and published played a large part in helping the agency obtain commitments from manufacturers to voluntarily phase out the use of these substances containing PFAS in paper and paperboard food packaging products,” he said.
Prior to this announcement, 12 U.S. states have moved to ban or phase out PFAS in food packaging, said Melanie Benesh, vice president of government affairs for the nonprofit Environmental Working Group, to CNN.
“This is really the culmination of state action to drive PFAS out of the marketplace and, particularly, to drive PFAS out of food packaging, where alternatives have existed for a long time,” Benesh said.
The FDA, which helps safeguard the American food supply, has authorized certain PFAS for limited use in cookware, food packaging and food processing equipment.
In a 2022 interview with “Good Morning America,” emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist Dr. Stephanie Widmer said that “PFAS chemicals are essentially everywhere,” thus making them difficult to regulate.
“Consuming and being exposed to small amounts of PFAS is unlikely to cause any harm, and just like anything else we are exposed to in the world, nothing is ever good in excess, moderation is key,” Widmer said. “Toxic doses for PFAS have not been well established, although the EPA has set ‘health advisory’ thresholds in drinking water.”
In the FDA’s statement, the organization says they will continue to conduct research and update data to ensure any risk determinations “continue to be accurate and based on current science.”
“Where appropriate, we will take the steps necessary to protect the health of U.S. consumers as part of our commitment to food chemical safety,” the FDA says.
