FDA Alert Spurs Call to Check Containers for ‘Forever Chemicals’

A public letter that the Food and Drug Administration recently directed to packaging companies isn’t enough to stop “forever chemicals” from getting into food, environmental groups say.

An FDA compliance alert reminded companies about a 1983 rule requiring food be stored only in fluorinated plastic containers manufactured in authorized ways. Companies fluorinate containers to preserve the contents.

Placing food in plastic containers made in unauthorized ways would violate the FDA’s requirements and may unintentionally cause certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to get into the food supply, the agency said. It referred to Environmental Protection Agency research ...