The Food and Drug Administration announced that all paper and paperboard food packaging are now free of grease-proofing substances that contained some of the most dangerous “forever chemicals.”
It comes nearly four years after the FDA asked companies to participate in a voluntary market phase-out of these substances after regulators detected multiple per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.
nearly four years after
Wednesday’s announcement marks the completion of the manufacturers volunteering to end production of grease-proofing substances that contained components of 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH), a widespread member of the PFAS family linked to liver damage, reproductive issues, kidney disease, neurological damage and other adverse health effects.
The grease-proofing substances were applied to take-out containers, fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, and other paper or paperboard products to make them more resistant to grease, oil or water leaks.
