The IAFNS Packaging Safety & Sustainability committee works to expand scientific knowledge on toxicology, exposure and risk assessment of food packaging substances and potential contaminants. The committee also works to identify and resolve barriers to adoption of safe, recycled packaging in support of a more sustainable food supply.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Abbott Nutrition
Conagra Brands
General Mills, Inc.
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ACADEMIC ADVISORS
Keith Vorst, PhD, Iowa State University
Kay Cooksey, PhD, Clemson University
GOVERNMENT ADVISORS
Sean Fischer, PhD, FDA CFSAN
Kevin D. Smith, US Marine Corps (ret)
Research projects:
Despite significant advances in recycling science there remain hurdles to the broad utilization of recycled plastics including the availability of reliable and predictable sources of safe post-consumer material. This project will generate an in-depth survey of the plastic recycling landscape and identify safety issues and potential solutions to enable wide-scale production and adoption of recycled plastic. The project will leverage current frameworks for PET recovery and recycling to identify gaps and solutions for olefin recovery, recycling, and safety for food and beverage packaging. Results will also identify restricted and non-intentional added substances in recycled plastic along with mitigation options, and survey domestic and international recycling requirements such as certification rules and regulations pertaining to “clean” recycled plastic.
Conferences & Symposiums:
Roundtable on Sustainable Food Packaging
February 22, 2023, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Food Packaging Safety and Sustainability committee is hosting a virtual roundtable on sustainable food packaging. This event will bring together stakeholders and technical experts from food companies, retailers, packaging manufacturers, academic institutions, and government regulators to share sustainability initiatives and goals. The expected outcome is to identify and prioritize areas where IAFNS supported science can drive progress in meeting sustainability goals.
To learn more about this invitation-only event, please email science@iafns.org.
Projects Supported by the Committee:
Publications
Newest to Oldest
Expanding Plastics Recycling Technologies: Chemical Aspects, Technology Status and Challenges
Green Chemistry, 2022
Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food: Symposium Proceedings
Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2021
IAFNS organized a two-session symposium titled Identifying Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food.
Identification and Quantitation Studies of Migrants from BPA Alternative Food-Contact Metal Can Coatings
Polymers, 2020
In this study, four different metal cans and their lids manufactured with different BPA-replacement food-contact coatings are subjected to migration testing in order to identify migratory chemical species that may make their way into foods.
Events
IAFNS Virtual Symposium on Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
September 2, 2020
Virtual, Symposium
IAFNS is pleased to announce the second session in the symposium “Identifying Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food”. This session will address risk characterization with a focus on exposure routes and toxicology, and will build on the first session on PFAS Analytical Methodology which was held June 23rd.
Read more about IAFNS Virtual Symposium on Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
Virtual Symposium: Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
June 23, 2020
Washington, DC, USA
This IAFNS virtual symposium aims to inform risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foods and ingredients. The symposium will address analytical methods for PFAS in environmental and food sources, exposure routes from foods, known toxicity mechanisms and knowledge gaps.
Read more about Virtual Symposium: Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food