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Starting in 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to include new restrictions in new Food Contact Notifications on the use of food contact substances for infant applications. Recently, FDA has hosted webinars to present information on regulatory requirements and considerations for infant formula ingredients and packaging. This article will discuss the history and current efforts by FDA to ensure the safety of infant formula, especially pertaining to food contact substances used in packaging.

The longstanding partnership between HRS Heat Exchangers and Spain’s National Technological Center for the Food and Canning Industry (CTNC) has been advanced with the installation of a new pilot aseptic filling plant from HRS, giving customers and researchers the chance to test the performance of different heat exchanger types when developing new food and drink products.

Spoilage bacteria Pseudomonas are able to survive thermal processing methods commonly used in meat production and can grow in refrigerated, vacuum-sealed packaging with little to no oxygen, according to a recent study.

The UK Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) recently updated technical guidance on food allergen labeling includes changes to advice on the use of Precautionary Allergen Labeling and clarification on “vegan” versus “free-from” labeling.

Packaging and labeling of cannabis-infused edibles are unregulated at the federal level due to Cannabis remaining a Schedule I drug, therefore industry must comply with individual state codes and use international standards for guidance. Cannabis-infused edibles are packaged and labeled with all the familiar requirements for a food and dietary supplement, and further requirements must be met.

Melodea Ltd. has introduced its newest innovation, MelOx NGen™, a barrier product engineered to allow for the recyclability of plastic food packaging.

McMaster University researchers have created a new packaging tray that can signal when Salmonella or other foodborne pathogens are present in raw or cooked foods, such as chicken.

An extensive literature review has pointed out knowledge gaps about the migration of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) oligomers from food contact materials (FCMs) into foods, as well as inadequate risk assessment for the chemicals.

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has alerted businesses that they should not sell plastic food contact materials containing bamboo and other plant-based materials, and have put out a call for evidence related to their safety and stability. 

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs are a policy approach where producers are given a significant responsibility for the treatment of post-consumer products. They involve building the cost of disposal into the cost of the product. These programs are meant to boost collection and recycling. They can also result in increased reusable and refillable packaging and encourage material reduction in packages. Any EPR program for food packaging needs to take into account food safety requirements and comply with applicable food packaging regulations. Any changes in food packaging must continue to protect the food after filling, during transportation and storage, and throughout its shelf life. Currently, four states—Maine, Oregon, Colorado, and California—have food packaging EPR laws, with more states expected to follow. However, EPR laws impacting food packaging are still in their infancy. States are looking for the most efficient ways to meet the requirements in the statues.