Tag: plastic
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EFSA Releases Guidance on Allergen Labeling, GMOs, Infant Formula, More
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released several guidance documents to aid stakeholders in complying with EU regulations on food issues implemented on March 27, 2021. The publications provide guidance on: Applying for an exemption from mandatory food allergen labeling; Renewing applications for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food and feed; Preparing applications for…
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Pennsylvania Cities Sue State over Ban on Plastic Bag Restrictions
Philadelphia and three other municipalities have filed a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania’s prohibition of bans on plastic or single-use bags. Philadelphia v. Penn., No. 42 MD 2021 (Penn. Commw. Ct., filed March 3, 2021). “To combat the destructive environmental impact of single use plastic bags, states and cities across the country have enacted laws restricting distribution of…
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New Jersey Passes Ban on Single-Use Plastic, Paper Bags
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has reportedly signed a law banning single-use plastic and paper bags and imposing limits on other food containers and straws. Effective May 2022, the law will ban the use of polystyrene food and drink containers, and single-use plastic straws may only be provided upon request beginning in November 2021. Some…
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Governments Question Food Packaging Safety
Consumers and regulators have long expressed concerns about the safety of plastic and other materials in packaging for food, and in 2019, concern turned towards perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced legislation in May that would ban PFAS in food containers and cookware, and a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) presentation was…
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Study Purportedly Finds Tea Bags Release Micro- and Nanoplastics
Researchers from McGill University examining the effects of plastic teabags have reportedly found that a teabag, when steeped at 95 degrees Celsius, can release “approximately 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into a single cup of the beverage.” Hernandez et al., “Plastic Teabags Release Billions of Microparticles and Nanoparticles into Tea,” Envtl. Sci. &…
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Canada to Ban Single-Use Plastics
The Government of Canada has announced that it “is taking additional steps to reduce Canada’s plastic waste, support innovation, and promote the use of affordable and safe alternatives” by banning “harmful single-use plastics as early as 2021 (such as plastic bags, straws, cutlery, plates, and stir sticks).” The announcement indicates that the “measures will be…
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England Bans Plastic Straws, Drink Stirrers
U.K. Environment Secretary Michael Gove has announced that England will ban plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic cotton swabs beginning in April 2020. The ban includes an exemption for those who use straws for medical needs, and registered pharmacies will be allowed to administer plastic straws. The announcement also indicates that restaurants and bars “will…
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EU Finalizes Ban on Some Single-Use Plastics
The Council of the European Union has voted to adopt measures banning “the 10 single-use plastic products most often found on European beaches,” including cutlery, plates, straws, drink stirrers, cups and other food and beverage containers. The ban focuses on products for which alternatives not constructed of single-use plastic are readily available. The decision will…