Alarming levels of dangerous chemicals known as PFAS were discovered in food packaging at a number of well-known fast-food and fast-casual restaurants and grocery store chains, a new report found.  CNN Health March 25, 2022

Under the  EU Chemicals Strategy, the European Commission will roll out a list of thousands of harmful chemicals to be prioritised for bans in the coming years – with PFAs being one of the top priority.

PFAS, is a class of toxics known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily and  are used in a variety of products and have been linked to cancer and many other health harms. In food packaging, they are used commonly on paper/fibre packaging due to its oil and moisture repellent properties. This includes bakery and pastry bags, pizza boxes ,disposable plates, bowls and clamshell containers and some labelled as biodegradable or compostable.

And therefore as the market focuses on moving away from single use plastics, leading to growing demand for paper packaging and moulded fibre products, are we simply swapping from one pollutant to a more harmful damaging alternative ?

Organic experts reveal that compost and biosolids contain high concentrations of PFAs and a major source of PFAS in compost comes from packaging.

So how do we fix the PFAs contamination in packaging before it goes to the compost ?

The governments of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway have announced that by July 2022 they will formally propose to the European Chemicals Agency (Echa) that PFAs be restricted under REACH legislation. The proposal aims to prohibit the production, marketing and use of these substances throughout Europe. The rules is likely to take effect from around 2025.

Many innovations are continuing in the search for alternative materials that offer proper grease resistant barriers to replace PFAs.

And some takeaway food chains has claimed to eliminate  intentionally added PFAS from all newly produced packaging.

How about the unintentional presence of PFAS in food packaging when the contamination has already occurred somewhere along the supply chain ?

Is there such a thing as PFAs free packaging ?

What is the implication of the use of PFAS in food packaging on the environment ?

What is the latest update on REACH restriction of PFAs ?

Have your questions answered and more at this conference and meet the speakers to clarify your doubts

Highlights include

- Upcoming REACH restriction of PFAS: status and context (EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability)

- Presence of PFAS in food packaging and tableware in Europe (based on chemical analysis)

- Analytical testing of PFAs presence in alternative materials

- Migration testing of PFAs that come into contact in Food packaging with focus on paper & board

- Green Screen Certified - GreenScreen Certified™: PFAs-free and Preferred Food Service Ware

- Uncoated grease resistant paper for food packaging

- Cellulose molecular coating that replaces PFAs and is safe to use for food contact packaging

- Phasing out PFAs in food packaging– Developments in the UK

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