Call for safe and sustainable EU packaging regulation
www.euractiv.comMay 08, 2023
The Facts
According to a study by the non-profit advocacy group Consumer Reports, certain plastic chemicals that have been associated with a myriad of health conditions have become "widespread" in popular food items.
The group tested 85 food products sold at supermarkets and by fast food chains and found that 84 contained "plasticizers" or phthalates, a group of chemicals used to make plastic more durable.
The Spin
Narrative A
Given our cumulative exposure to plastic pollution, it's essential that the Food and Drug Administration and similar agencies worldwide reassess the risks of plasticizers and bisphenols. As plastic waste proliferates farmland and infiltrates the food we eat, a ban on potentially dangerous plastic chemicals in food packaging and processing would help mitigate the effects of exposure to plastic chemicals on humans.
Narrative B
With plastic ubiquitous in food packaging and processing, it's difficult to avoid the chemicals altogether. Plastic packaging is critical in ensuring food safety and product quality and reducing food loss and waste. As there's no alternative to plastics, the best regulators could do is ask food manufacturers to follow existing regulatory requirements and require rigorous testing for chemicals in packaging.