Bill to Ban ‘Forever Chemicals’ from Food Packaging Would Eliminate Major Source of Exposure

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage):  A bill introduced in Congress would ban the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS from food packaging, an avoidable source of exposure to the harmful substances. The bipartisan Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and in the House of Representatives by Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Don Young (R-Alaska). If passed, it would ban the sale of grease-repellant PFAS on any food wrappers or packaging, beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

“Food is likely a significant source of exposure to these dangerous chemicals for millions of Americans,” said EWG senior scientist David Andrews, Ph.D. “PFAS in the environment can contaminate crops and accumulate in fish and meat, but they also leach into food from food packaging.

“The Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act would quickly cut off a potential major and completely avoidable source of exposure to these forever chemicals,” Andrews added. In 2014 and 2015, Andrews was among a team of scientists who collected and tested for PFAS on more than 300 samples of sandwich and pastry wrappers, french fry bags, pizza boxes, and other paper and paperboard from fast food chains and local restaurants from across the U.S. Of the samples, 40 percent tested positive for fluorine, a likely indicator of PFAS.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantage.com