Food Contact Materials

Bisphenols

Bisphenols are chemicals used in the production of plastics, mainly polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, which are used on thermal papers like receipts. Polycarbonate plastics are used in a variety of products, including water bottles, food storage containers, toys, and baby bottles. Bisphenol A (BPA) is the chemical that has been most studied and EFSA published an updated review in 2023 and reported that both the mean and the 95th percentile dietary exposures to BPA in all age groups exceeded the previously set TDI by two to three orders of magnitude. Even considering the uncertainty in the exposure assessment, the exceedance being so large, EFSA concluded that there is a health concern from dietary BPA exposure. A previous EFSA opinion in 2015 had concluded there was no risk to health, but new data and consensus that outcomes remained uncertain led to the more recent re-evaluation.

EFSA concluded in 2023 that in terms of general toxicity several organs are potential targets of toxicity for BPA and the available data from the scientific literature indicates that the immune system, cardiovascular system, central nervous system and reproductive system may be targets for BPA toxicity and that BPA may induce adverse metabolic effects. In terms of carcinogenicity the mammary gland, prostate and uterus can be targets of BPA-induced toxicity. To find out more about bisphenols follow the link above.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)

Perfluoroalkylated substaances (PFASs) include a large group of fluorinated compounds which are inert at high temperatures and to chemical and biological reaction. PFASs have been widely used for a range of applications including water resistant coatings for fabrics, fire-fighting foams, surfactants and insecticides. PFAS have been used in food contact paper and paperboard for decades due to their unique ability to provide both moisture and oil/grease resistance. PFASs are persistent in the environment and some of the substances and/or or their degradation products are toxic and have been reported to be endocrine disrupting, carcinogenic, and harmful to the foetus. PFASs are used in fast food packaging, disposable cups and plates, paper case for cupcakes, baking paper, liners, wrappers and popcorn beakers. There is no specific EU regulation covering paper and board food contact materials but in Regulation 1935/2004 on materials intended to come into contact with food, it is stated that materials must be manufactured in such a way that they do not transfer chemicals to food in quantities that could endanger human health. Follow the link above to find out more about PFAS.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Is a polymer used as a nonstick coating for cookware for many years. It has been shown that during the heating of PTFE small quantities of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) migrates into food. You can find out more about PFOS in the section on non-pesticide related persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

Phthalates

(and structurally similar substances and replacement substances Terephthalates, Citrates, Benzoates)

Ortho-phthalates, often referred to as phthalates, are chemicals used in plastic products (most commonly in the specific type of plastic named polyvinyl chloride, also known as PVC or vinyl) as plasticizers to make the material soft and less brittle. Phthalates have also been used in food packaging or other minor food contact uses such as components of adhesives, lubricants, and sealants. Due to the absence of covalent bonds with plastic polymers, phthalates can continuously leach from the plastics into the environment. As the ocean is the largest sink for microplastics, large amounts of phthalates are released into the marine environment along with microplastics. Phthalates can also accumulate in organisms and exhibit endocrine-disrupting effects. Structurally similar substances are included in this group as these are part of the ongoing EFSA review of plasticizers migrating from food contact materials.

The most frequently found phthalates in studies are dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), and di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). This is mainly due to the fact that DEHP accounts for approximately 40 % of the global consumption of plasticizers. DiBP and DBP are extensively applied in cosmetics and plastic agricultural cover materials such as mulch. Follow the link above to find out more information on phthalates.

Styrene

One of the most common compounds used for packaging of food is polystyrene, used significantly in beverage cups and for take-away food. Styrene is used in polystyrene, polyamide, and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene. In humans, exposure with styrene occurs through food as styrene has the ability to migrate to food. Styrene is often detected in ready-to-eat foods particularly if food is heated in a microwave inside polystyrene packaging. Metabolites resulting from styrene metabolism are mutagenic and carcinogenic but EFSA in its 2025 review of styrene from FCM concluded that there was no evidence that styrene is genotoxic following oral exposure and that use of styrene in the manufacture of FCM respecting the safe migration limit (SML) of 40 μg/kg food proposed by the European Commission is not of safety concern. This EFSA review has however been criticised and you can find out more about styrene and its potential health risks following the link above.

Melamine and formaldehyde

In recent years, products resembling the composition and appearance of plastic materials have been available on the market made of a material containing various fillers and additives, such as melamine-formaldehyde resin, bamboo flour and other substances. Whilst products have been advertised as natural bamboo, environmentally friendly and safe it has been shown that the migration of melamine and formaldehyde from melamine-formaldehyde resin to food is possible. Melamine and formaldehyde are authorized substances in the EU for use in food contact materials under Regulation (EU) 10/2011. In 2019, melamine was classified as a possible human carcinogen by the IARC. It is toxic and increases the risk of kidney cancer. In 2012, formaldehyde was classified as carcinogenic to humans by the IARC. It could damage the central nervous system and especially the upper colic of the visual nervous system. For more information on the risk to health from food contact materials made from melamine-formaldehyde follow the link above.

Microplastics

Microplastics are either intentionally manufactured at a small size, like microbeads in cosmetics or microfibres from clothing or are formed when larger plastic items break down into smaller pieces due to environmental factors like sunlight, waves, and wear and tear. They have infiltrated every part of the planet. They are found in water throughout the world’s oceans and rivers and they are spread widely in soils and end up in the food we eat.

There is considerable global concern about the prevalence of microplastic residues and a Lancet report in August 2025 concluded that:

‘Plastics are a grave, growing, and under-recognised danger to human and planetary health. Plastics cause disease and death from infancy to old age and are responsible for health-related economic losses exceeding US$1.5 trillion annually. These impacts fall disproportionately upon low-income and at-risk populations. The principal driver of this crisis is accelerating growth in plastic production—from 2 megatonnes (Mt) in 1950, to 475 Mt in 2022 that is projected to be 1200 Mt by 2060. Plastic pollution has also worsened, and 8000 Mt of plastic waste now pollute the planet. Less than 10% of plastic is recycled. Yet, continued worsening of plastics’ harms is not inevitable. Similar to air pollution and lead, plastics’ harms can be mitigated cost-effectively by evidence-based, transparently tracked, effectively implemented, and adequately financed laws and policies. To address plastics’ harms globally, UN member states unanimously resolved in 2022 to develop a comprehensive, legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, namely the Global Plastics Treaty covering the full lifecycle of plastic. Coincident with the expected finalisation of this treaty, we are launching an independent, indicator-based global monitoring system: the Lancet Countdown on health and plastics. This Countdown will identify, track, and regularly report on a suite of geographically and temporally representative indicators that monitor progress toward reducing plastic exposures and mitigating plastics’ harms to human and planetary health’.