Federal Legislation Would Deem 15 Chemicals Unsafe in Food Packaging
On June 9, 2026, lawmakers introduced the No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026, which would ban 15 chemicals or chemical classes—including PFAS, ortho-phthalates, and bisphenol A—from food-contact use. H.R.9231 was introduced by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and […]
FDA Defends Phthalate Food Additive Authorizations in Legal Challenge
FDA acted reasonably when it denied a petition seeking to remove authorization for five phthalate chemicals used as food additives, the FDA told the D.C. Circuit on August 13, 2025. The case, Alaska Community Action on Toxics v. FDA, No. 24-1382, marks the latest dispute over the safety of chemicals long used in food packaging […]
DOD Requests Information on Chemicals Undergoing TSCA Risk Evaluation
Last month, the Defense Department (DOD) issued a request for information (RFI) seeking input on critical military uses of 11 chemicals currently undergoing Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation. The “ability to identify critical applications earlier in the TSCA Section 6 risk evaluation process will allow [DOD] to investigate the availability of alternatives, inform […]
Phthalates DBP and DEHP Present an Unreasonable Risk, EPA Drafts Say
EPA has preliminarily determined that dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) present an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment in separate draft risk evaluations released on June 5, 2025, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Both chemicals are primarily used as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), according to EPA. Chemical Data […]
Scientists Critique EPA’s Draft Evaluation of Phthalate DCHP
A collection of scientists, academics, and clinicians have called for “extensive revisions” to EPA’s draft risk evaluation for dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), arguing that the assessment “failed to incorporate the best available science and makes a number of scientifically unsupported assumptions.” The May 9 comments were submitted by the Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment […]
EPA to Release Phthalate Cumulative Risk Assessment
On December 10, 2024, EPA announced its schedule for completing Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluations for five phthalates: BBP, DBP, DEHP, DIBP and DCHP. In the next few weeks, EPA expects to release a draft risk evaluation for DCHP and a slew of supporting documents—including a first-of-its-kind cumulative risk assessment (CRA) for six […]
EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation of DINP Finds Minimal Risks, but Determines That the Phthalate Presents an Unreasonable Risk
On August 30, 2024, EPA released its draft risk evaluation for diisononyl phthalate (DINP). The draft risk evaluation determined that most uses of DINP under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) “do not pose risk to the environment or the general population.” The draft only identified three uses that “raise concerns” out of 47 evaluated […]
FDA Reaffirms Softening Chemicals are Okay for Food Packaging
FDA recently denied a citizen petition requesting that the Agency prohibit the use of eight ortho-phthalates and revoke prior sanctioned uses for five additional ortho-phthalates in food packaging. Ortho-phthalates are used to soften plastics. They can be found in plastic film wrap on foods, cap gaskets used on the metal lids of glass jars, beverage […]
FDA Rejects Phthalate Petition
On May 19, 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has denied two petitions to ban phthalates in food packaging. In conjunction with denying the petitions, the FDA accepted a petition requesting that the Agency stops authorizing 23 phthalates for use in food containers as they are no longer used by […]
CPSC Settles with NRDC Regarding the Restriction of Phthalates in Children’s Toys
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have reached an agreement in principle for the federal agency to issue a rule banning five chemicals, known as phthalates, that may cause reproductive harm from their exposure in children’s products. Those five phthalates are: diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP), di-n-pentyl phthalate (DnPP), […]