New York bans PFAS in “nation-leading effort” against toxic food packaging contamination

05 Jan 2023 --- The US state of New York has officially banned the use of PFAS chemicals in food packaging materials. Effective since January 1, the ban is enforced under the Hazardous Packaging Act and applies to any packaging products designed for direct food contact. 

The move follows a bipartisan amendment passed by the US Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions in June last year, which sought to bring a nationwide restriction on PFAS chemicals.

These so-called “forever chemicals” are commonly used in paper packaging as water-repellent and grease-proofing treatments but have been linked to a wide range of health issues. 

New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has now implemented the ban along with other laws targeting the use of 1,4-dioxane, a chemical used in personal care and household cleaning products, and toxic chemicals such as benzene, which are still being used in children’s products. 

DEC commissioner Basil Seggos comments: “DEC prioritizes the health and well-being of New Yorkers and our environment, and the implementation of new laws for chemicals in everyday household products is part of our state’s ongoing commitment to protect communities.” 

“With the start of the new year, these stringent requirements will build upon our nation-leading efforts to prevent exposure to emerging contaminants.”Fast food chains are pledging action against PFAS as policy tightens and legal action is being taken.

The end of PFAS? 
New York’s ban is another step toward eradicating the use of PFAS in the US entirely. The group constitutes around 12,000 different chemicals that do not break down in the environment and transfer into drinking water and soil. 

The substances have been linked to decreased vaccine response, cancer, increased cholesterol levels, pregnancy-induced hypertension, liver damage, reduced fertility and increased risk of thyroid disease.

Major retailers commonly use PFAS as grease proofers for fiber-based packaging. Mounting public pressure has resulted in class action lawsuits being filed against fast food chains Burger King and McDonald’s, which are accused of fraud, misrepresentation and false advertising for claiming the food they serve is safe.

Restaurant Brands International – the owner of Burger King – has pledged to eliminate PFAS use by 2025. 

PFAS alternatives 
As legislation against PFAS tightens in the US and other countries, researchers are developing alternative materials that can replace the chemicals without causing harm to consumers. 

Recent research by Flinders University in Australia and One-Five, a German biomaterials developer, uses seaweed extracts to develop biopolymer coating materials to replace PFAS in foodservice packaging. 

The researchers developed a prototype coating from seaweed that they claim meets the functional requirements of conventional grease-resistant packaging materials. Using seaweed creates a circular solution, allowing the grease-resistant film to biodegrade, deriving from natural ingredients. 

By Louis Gore-Langton

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