Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that oil-repellent materials containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for food packaging will no longer be sold in the United States. This means that food packaging such as fast food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, takeout cardboard containers and pet food bags are being phased out.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized certain PFAS for limited use in cookware, food packaging and food processing equipment.
The FDA helps keep the food supply safe by evaluating the use of chemicals as food ingredients and substances that come into contact with food, including food packaging, storage, or other handling, to ensure that these uses are safe.
In 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration required companies to stop selling anti-grease substances containing certain types of PFAS after conducting post-market safety assessments. Research conducted and published by FDA scientists was largely instrumental in helping the agency obtain commitments from manufacturers to voluntarily phase out the use of these PFOS-containing substances in paper and paperboard food packaging products.
