CNN —Certain kinds of greaseproofing “forever” chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, will no longer be used in food packaging in the US, the US Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The FDA’s food studies have shown that food packaging materials like fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags and take-out pizza boxes were a major source of dietary exposure to certain types of PFAS, hormone-disrupting chemicals that may persist in the body and the environment.
While health and environmental advocates cheered the new announcement, they noted that companies were already facing pressure from state bans to get PFAS out of consumer products, including food packaging.
Chemicals called long-chain PFAS stopped being sold in the US due to safety concerns in 2011.
Short-chain PFAS weren’t thought to build up in living organisms the way long-chain PFAS do, but research has shown that they may be metabolized into forms that linger in tissue.
Persons:
”, Leonardo Trasande, Melanie Benesh, ” Benesh, chemistries, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, Jim Jones, PFAS, Sandee LaMotte
Organizations:
CNN, US Food and Drug Administration, NYU Langone Health, American Chemistry Council, “ ACC, FDA, Get CNN, CNN Health, Chemicals, Manufacturers
Locations:
New York City