New Research Uncovers Health Risks of Chemicals in Food Packaging
A recent peer-reviewed study reveals that more than 3,600 chemicals approved for use in food packaging, kitchenware, and food processing equipment have been detected in humans. These chemicals, which include toxic substances such as PFAS, metals, bisphenols, phthalates, and volatile organic compounds, are linked to severe health problems like cancer and hormone disruption. The study underscores that there are many other chemicals with insufficient toxicological profiles, such as synthetic antioxidants and ink-stabilizing oligomers, which calls for greater scrutiny of food contact materials. While food packaging isn’t the only source of these chemicals, it contributes significantly to human exposure, especially with the prevalence of unregulated materials like plastic.
Further analysis reveals that factors like higher temperatures, fat content, and packaging size can increase the rate of chemical leaching into food. Many of these substances are approved for use under the U.S. FDA’s “generally regarded as safe” rule, which has limited oversight, allowing potentially hazardous materials to be used without updated scientific review. In contrast, Europe has stricter regulations but still falls short in addressing these risks. Experts recommend using glass containers to limit exposure, but ultimately, stronger regulatory measures are necessary to protect consumers from harmful chemicals in food packaging.
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Puraffinity is pleased to announce that its G400+ adsorbent media has been certified to NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 and NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 standards for Point of Entry (POE) and Water Treatment Plant End Use applications The certifications confirm that G400+ meets the required health effects criteria for materials used in drinking water system components. This milestone enables Puraffinity to support installations where NSF-certified products are required, including municipal drinking water applications. “As a member of the American Water Works Association (AWWA), I see this certification as an important step for broader municipal adoption, ” said Neal Megonnell, Chief Commercial Officer at Puraffinity. “It enables utilities to deploy our technology where NSF compliance is required, and it strengthens our ability to scale PFAS treatment solutions while maintaining the highest standards of safety and performance.” Designed for highly effective PFAS removal with rapid kinetics, the advanced adsorbent media G400+ supports compact system design and efficient treatment across a wide range of water matrices. Building on this milestone, the company continues to advance water treatment solutions that help utilities and industry address PFAS compliance and protect drinking water quality.
Puraffinity partners with the U.S. Army ERDC to evaluate Puratech G400, an advanced adsorbent for PFAS removal, through lab and field trials comparing its performance and cost-effectiveness to existing PFAS treatment technologies
Puraffinity signs first commercial agreement for full-scale deployment of its PFAS removal technology
An exclusive panel featuring Puraffinity CEO Vincent Caillaud, who will join industry leaders to discuss cutting-edge solutions for combatting PFAS, “forever chemicals”, in drinking water. With PFAS contamination presenting urgent health challenges due to their extreme persistence, mobility, and health impacts at trace levels, this session will spotlight the realities of PFAS in water supplies, the latest science driving regulatory change, and the next generation of removal technologies.
WEFTEC 2025 is the world’s largest annual water quality conference and exhibition, held September 27–October 1, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago. It gathers over 20,000 water professionals from 100+ countries to explore cutting-edge water technologies, attend technical sessions and workshops, and network with sector leaders. The event features a massive exhibition of advanced solutions, educational opportunities, and speciality pavilions focused on topics like sustainability and digital innovation. Our CEO, Vincent Caillaud , and CCO, Neal Megonnell , will be in attendance.
In the Building World-Class Teams webinar series, Henrik Hagemann and Jessica Middlesmiss will be discussing how to Create Cultures that Scale