Food legislation and food safety – May 2023

Food Contact Materials (FCMs) – rules and regulations
Algeria: SGS reports that legislation on metal FCMs has been issued.
China: Keller and Heckman reports that the government has approved one new additive and five new resins. Keller and Heckman also reports that the CFSA is requesting comments on two new resins and expanded use for three FCMs. In another article, Keller and Heckman reports that the CNFIA has issued voluntary standards on Declaration of Compliances (DoCs). The CNFIA is also planning to develop a standard covering DoCs for printing inks used in FCMs.
EU: EFSA is inviting stakeholders to submit data on phthalates, structurally similar substances and replacement substances that are potentially used as plasticisers in FCMs.
Mercosur: Argentina has notified the WTO of a draft resolution (770 kB, in Spanish) regulating the composition of silicones used in FCMs.
US: Keller and Heckman reports that the FDA has added four new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS) Notifications. In another article the company gives an overview of recently introduced legislation in different states that include bans of PFAS in food packaging.

Claims, marking and labelling
EU: The EC has proposed a revision of the existing marketing standards applicable to a number of agri-food products, such as fruit and vegetables, fruit juices and jams, honey, poultry or eggs. This includes a revision of the so-called Breakfast Directives.
Canada: In a study (618 kB) published in PLOS ONE, University of Toronto researchers found that food with child-appealing packaging contained more sugar.
NL: The government (in Dutch) reports that Nutri-Score will be legally designated as the food choice logo that NL manufacturers and supermarkets may use for their food products.
In 2022, 22.3% of the turnover of food in Dutch supermarkets was achieved by products with an independent sustainability label. This is according to the latest figures from IRI’s (in Dutch) retail sustainability label monitor (in Dutch, 1.29 MB).
US: The FDA has reopened the comment period for the draft guidance entitled “Labelling of Plant-Based Milk Alternatives and Voluntary Nutrient Statements; Draft Guidance for Industry.”
The FDA has also issued a Request For Information (RFI) to learn more about the content, format, and accuracy of food labelling information provided through online grocery shopping platforms.
The USDA has published a report (995 kB) estimating the frequency with which food suppliers make the “natural” claim on food packaging.

Research
FPF’s Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) has received a major update. This new version brings the database up to date with recent studies.
ILSI Europe has published an overview (845 kB) of approaches for analysing NIAS from different FCMs.
A study (6.51 MB) released by IPEN found PFAS in microwave popcorn exported from the US to Indonesia. PFAS in microwave popcorn bags migrate into the oil, so people may ingest the chemicals when they eat popcorn.
In a study (546 kB) published in Foods, researchers at the University of Study of Roma “San Raffaele” asses the presence of the phthalates DEHP and DBP in coffee powder and beverages.
 

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