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The United States has issued H R. 6105-2023 Food Packaging Non Toxic Act

Time：

2023-11-30

Due to an increasing number of states in the United States establishing their own food safety regulations, the US Congress recently issued H R. The Food Packaging Non Toxicity Act 2023 (proposed bill) prohibits five categories of substances considered unsafe from being used as food contact substances. The proposed bill will amend section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 CFR 348). This law shall apply within 2 years from the date of promulgation.

(Image source: conference. gov)

Based on the requirements of this draft, the following substances will be identified as unsafe food contact substances:

Introduction to 5 Major Substances

01 Chemical substances of phthalates

Phthalates are mainly used in polyvinyl chloride materials to transform polyvinyl chloride from rigid plastic to elastic plastic, acting as plasticizers. It is widely used in hundreds of products such as toys, food packaging materials, medical blood bags and hoses, vinyl floors and wallpapers, detergents, lubricants, personal care products (such as nail polish, hair sprays, soap and shampoo), but in recent years, the environmental health hazards caused by such compounds have received extensive attention from environmental science, public health, the media and even the general public.

02 PFAS Chemicals

PFAS (per - and polyfluoroalkyl substances), namely perfluoroalkyl substances, is a series of unnatural synthetic organic compounds, mainly composed of carbon atoms and fluorine atoms. It not only has hydrophilic functional groups and hydrophobic alkyl side chains, but also has fire resistance, high stability and durability. Therefore, it is widely used in various industries and is used in textile, surfactant, food packaging, non stick coating, fire fighting foam and other fields. However, because of its high thermal stability and chemical stability, it can persist in the environment and is almost not biodegradable. Certain types have been proven to accumulate in the environment and people's bodies. Exposure to certain types of PFAS may have serious health effects.

03 Bisphenol A, B, S, F or AF related compounds

Bisphenol A (BPA), abbreviated as BPA, is a monomer used in the production of plastics, mainly used in the production of various polymer materials such as polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resin. PC, formed by the polymerization of bisphenol A and phosgene, has the characteristics of colorless transparency, lightweight and durability, and is not easy to break. It is widely used in the production of baby bottles, mineral water bottles, plastic tableware, medical equipment, and food packaging. Research has shown that the chemical structure of bisphenol A is similar to that of synthetic estrogen - diethylstilbestrol, which can cause endocrine disorders in the human body, interfere with the reproductive system, and induce adverse effects such as precocious puberty in children. In addition, studies have shown that bisphenol A can significantly increase the incidence of animal cancers such as ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and leukemia. Substances with similar structures to bisphenol A, such as bisphenol B, S, F, AF, etc., were initially developed as substitutes for bisphenol A. However, further toxicological studies have found that these substances may cause health hazards similar to bisphenol A.

04 Styrene

Styrene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C8H8. The electrons of the vinyl group are conjugated with the benzene ring, insoluble in water, and soluble in most organic solvents such as ethanol and ether. It is an important monomer for synthesizing resins, ion exchange resins, and synthetic rubbers. On October 27, 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization (WHO) released a preliminary list of carcinogens for reference, stating that styrene is included in the 2B class carcinogen list.

05 Antimony trioxide

Antimony trioxide is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Sb2O3. The natural product is called antimony hua, commonly known as antimony white, which is a white crystalline powder with a melting point of 655 ℃ and a boiling point of 1550 ℃. It is soluble in concentrated hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, alkaline solutions, and hot tartaric acid solutions, and slightly soluble in water, dilute nitric acid, and dilute sulfuric acid. It is mainly used as a pigment, flame retardant, mordant, catalyst, and can also be used to synthesize antimony salts. On October 27, 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization released a preliminary list of carcinogens for reference, with antimony trioxide listed as a 2B class carcinogen.

In summary, according to this proposed bill, manufacturers of food contact materials and products should gradually reduce the use of the five types of substances mentioned above as raw materials or additives for the production of food contact materials and products, and should seek alternative substances and materials as soon as possible.