FDA Reviewing Safety of Food-Contact Uses of 30 Phthalates

The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing the safety of 30 chemicals, called ortho-phthalates, used to make food packaging and food contact materials.

In an April 12 letter to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the FDA said it would consider an environmental coalition’s March 18 food additive petition. The petition said the FDA should revoke or revise its regulations that allow the chemicals use, because ortho-phthalates can harm reproduction and development.

The FDA’s letter saying it will review the phthalates is the first step. It doesn’t mean the agency has taken any position on the merit of the coalition’s ...