Chemical Control

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Microplastics and nanoplastics are pervasive in the food supply and may be affecting food safety and security on a global scale, according to a new study led by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency.

Minnesota is poised to pass legislation that will ban nearly all uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the state.

On May 15, 2023, the California State Assembly passed first-of-its-kind legislation that would prohibit the use of certain dangerous and toxic chemicals in processed foods and drinks. Assembly Bill (AB) 418 would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of any food product in California containing red dye 3, titanium dioxide, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, or propyl paraben.

The European Commission has set new maximum levels (MLs) for certain contaminants in food. The new MLs are effective as of April 25, 2023.

A recent study out of the UK has revealed that raw dog food containing pheasant meat may pose a health risk to pets due to the presence of high lead concentrations caused by ammunition used to hunt game. With the popularity of raw pet food in the UK on the rise, the numbers of pets at risk for lead exposure could be high.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed to register new uses for the pesticide chlormequat chloride on food crops. If finalized, the decision would mark the first-ever approval for using chlormequat chloride on U.S. food. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has raised food safety concerns with EPA’s proposal.

The majority of food on the EU market contain pesticide residues below legally permitted thresholds according to the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) 2021 report on pesticides in foods.

Further underlining the pertinence of mitigating the growing global public health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), recent research revealed 40 percent of Spanish supermarket meat samples to be contaminated with multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli.

Dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in food packaging, is a health concern for consumers across all age groups, according to a reevaluation conducted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The agency significantly lowered the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for BPA.

A new guidance document from ILSI Europe on the existing approaches for analyzing Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS) from different food contact materials has been released.