Food Wrapper Chemicals Banned

Three perfluoroalkyl ethyl-containing substances that repel grease and water can no longer be used to coat paper that comes into contact with food sold in the U.S., the Food & Drug Administration announced on Jan. 4. FDA’s action comes in response to a 2014 petition by environmental and public health groups that claim the chemicals are linked to cancer and birth defects.

The substances have been used in microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, fast-food wrappers, and other paper food packaging. The chemicals have not been made in the U.S. since 2011. But food packaging that ­contains the compounds could be made in other countries and imported into the U.S., FDA says.

The basis for FDA’s action is new toxicity data for substances that are structurally similar to these compounds. “There is no longer a reasonable certainty of no harm from the food-contact use of these food-contact substances,” the agency says.

The groups that petitioned FDA welcome the ban but say it is just a small step toward improving U.S. food safety. FDA’s action does nothing to stop food packaging companies from using nearly 100 related chemicals that may also be hazardous, says the Environmental Working Group (EWG), one of the petitioners.

“We know very little about the safety of these next-generation perfluorinated compounds in food wrappers,” says David Andrews, senior scientist at EWG. “But their chemical structure is very similar to the ones that have been phased out,” he says. “Limited safety testing that has been done suggests they may have some of the same health hazards.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council, which also signed the 2014 petition, is urging FDA to quickly act on another petition filed last year that asks the agency to ban seven flavorings used in food, claiming they too cause cancer.