FDA said Wednesday that grease-proofing materials containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the U.S. This means the major source of dietary exposure to PFAS from food packaging like fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and take-out paperboard containers, is being eliminated.
PFAS are a group of thousands of chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. The agency has authorized certain PFAS for limited use in cookware, food packaging, and food processing equipment. Exposure to some types of PFAS has been linked to serious health effects, said FDA.
The decision marks an FDA-led initiative to encourage manufacturers to voluntarily cease the sale of food contact substances containing certain PFAS intended for use as grease-proofing agents in the U.S. The effort represents a step forward as the agency reevaluates chemicals authorized for use with, and in food, and underscores a milestone in the protection of U.S. consumers from potentially harmful food-contact chemicals, said FDA.
In 2020, FDA first engaged companies to cease sales of grease-proofing substances that contain certain types of PFAS following a post-market safety assessment. The research FDA scientists conducted and published played a large part in helping the agency obtain commitments from manufacturers to phase out substances containing PFAS in paper and paperboard food packaging products.
Additionally, various FDA departments partnered with science research firm BioMérieux to develop tools to improve the detection and elimination of foodborne diseases from the food system. The inaugural projects will focus on E. Coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.