Food Packaging News and Research

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Chemicals lining food wrappers migrating to humans

University of Toronto scientists have found that chemicals used to line junk food wrappers and microwave popcorn bags are migrating into food and being ingested by people where they are contributing to chemical contamination observed in blood.

9 Nov 2010

$700,000 worth of adulterated food seized by U.S. Marshals in Georgia

U.S. Marshals, acting under a court order sought by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, today seized an estimated $700,000 worth of rice and other packaged food products from a rodent-infested warehouse in East Point, Ga. The FDA-regulated food products were stored in a warehouse operated by Sun Hong Kai Holding Inc., which does business as United Food Service.

30 Oct 2010

IOM Report: Food nutrition labels should be simple, on front

The food industry should provide simple, clearly-worded nutrition information on the front of food packages, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

15 Oct 2010

Highlighting calories, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium in food packaging nutrition rating systems needed

Nutrition rating systems and symbols on the fronts of food packaging would be most useful to shoppers if they highlighted four nutrients of greatest concern - calories, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium - says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. These food components are routinely overconsumed and associated most strongly with diet-related health problems affecting many Americans, including obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

14 Oct 2010

PlastiPure awarded NIH and NSF grants to develop EA-Free material and products

PlastiPure, a safe plastics technology company, announced today that it has received two grants from the National Institute of Environmental Health and Safety (NIEHS), a division of the NIH, and an additional grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Collectively the grants fund formulation of a replacement for polycarbonate that is free of estrogenic activity (EA-Free), creating flexible food packaging that contains no EA, and developing a verifiably EA-Free baby bottle.

12 Oct 2010

PlastiPure, ReliaBrand partner to produce EA-Free plastic consumer products

PlastiPure, a safer-plastics technology company, has announced a partnership with ReliaBrand to license infant feeding, sports bottle, food packaging, and medical products free of harmful chemicals that cause estrogenic activity (EA). Chemicals with EA have been strongly linked to adverse health effects such as birth defects, reproductive cancers, and behavioral and learning disorders. The widely known chemicals BPA and phthalates are only a few of thousands of chemicals suspected to have EA.

11 Oct 2010

Chemicals in non-stick cookware elevates cholesterol level among children: Report

Children and teens with higher blood levels of chemicals used in the production of non-stick cookware and waterproof fabrics appear more likely to have elevated total and LDL cholesterol levels, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

7 Sep 2010

Current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging not a health risk: Health Canada

As part of its research commitment on bisphenol A (BPA), Health Canada released today the results of a new survey of BPA exposure levels in a variety of soft drink and beer products. The results from this latest government survey provide confirmation that foods and beverages packaged in BPA epoxy resin coated metal cans do not pose a health risk.

27 Aug 2010

New carbon nanomaterial fights disease causing bacteria

A new form of paper with the built-in ability to fight disease-causing bacteria could have applications that range from anti-bacterial bandages to food packaging that keeps food fresher longer to shoes that ward off foot odor. A report about the new material, which consists of the thinnest possible sheets of carbon, appears in ACS Nano, a monthly journal.

22 Jul 2010

Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals linked to ADHD in children

A new study led by a team of Boston University School of Public Health researchers suggests a link between polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), industrial compounds which are widely used in many consumer products, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

21 Jul 2010

Ocutec receives further equity investment of £500K from existing investors

Ocutec Ltd, the Lanarkshire-based medical devices company, today announced that it had received a further equity investment of £500K from existing investors Discovery Investment Fund Limited, Chimaerabio, Scottish Enterprise Co-investment Fund and company founders.

3 Jun 2010

Health Canada releases survey results of BPA exposure levels in canned foods

As part of its research commitment on bisphenol A, Health Canada released today the results of a new survey of BPA exposure levels in a variety of canned foods. The results from this latest government survey provide confirmation that foods packaged in BPA epoxy resin coated metal cans do not pose a health risk.

2 Jun 2010

Attack on ‘junk food’ marketing to cut down on obesity

Amidst warnings of the obesity epidemic health authorities voicing their concern called for restrictions on fast non healthy food and alcohol advertising. Australia is one of the most overweight nations in the world, with more than 60% of adults and 25% children overweight or obese.

5 Apr 2010

Impact of plastics on human health and ecosystems

Plastics surround us. A vital manufacturing ingredient for nearly every existing industry, these materials appear in a high percentage of the products we use every day. Although modern life would be hard to imagine without this versatile chemistry, products composed of plastics also have a dark side, due in part to the very characteristics that make them so desirable-their durability and longevity.

20 Mar 2010

Prevention of choking hazards in food: Safe, children oriented packaging and design needed

While choking hazards in toys have been widely publicized and addressed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ironically choking hazards in food have lacked federal attention despite the fact that food is far more likely to go into a child’s mouth.

12 Mar 2010

Guiding Stars storewide nutrition navigation system influences healthier food purchasing decisions

Guiding Stars, the world’s first storewide nutrition navigation system, today announced that new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows Guiding Stars had a positive influence on food purchasing decisions after the implementation of the zero-to-three star rating system and that these changes continue to be significant in achieving healthier food choices in the supermarket.

19 Feb 2010