Groups Petition FDA to Ban Imported PFCs in Paper Products

A group of consumer and health organizations has filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration asking the agency to ban perchlorate and perfluorocarboxylates in paper products that are imported into the US, citing potential harm to human health.

In 2011, three US manufacturers voluntarily stopped using the chemicals in pizza boxes and other food wrappers at the FDA’s request.

Perchlorate helps reduce static and PFCs keep grease from soaking into food containers.

However, the Natural Resources Defense Council said it found large manufacturers in China and India that import their products into the US and may still use perchlorate and PFCs.

The petition cites more than a dozen scientific animal studies that show perchlorate interferes with the thyroid gland’s ability to make hormones from iodine. These hormones are needed for brain development in fetuses and infants. Other animal studies have shown that PFCs can damage male reproductive systems.

The NRDC is leading the petition effort and is joined by eight other consumer and health organizations, including the Breast Cancer Fund, the Center for Food Safety and the Children’s Environmental Health Network.

Clothing manufacturers have been recently making a concerted effort to eliminate PFCs from their products.

In January, Burberry announced that by July 2016 it would eliminate all PFCs in its supply-chain.

In June, the adidas Group, whose brands include adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade, announced it had partnered with bluesign technologies and committed to being 99 percent PFC free by December 2017.

Photo Credit: Pizza via Shutterstock