Burger King, Other Fast Food Brands Will Phase Out PFAS In Food Packaging
Several leading fast food brands have committed to removing the "forever" chemicals from food packaging, some soon and some by 2025. Meanwhile, in California a fogging company used mislabeled pesticides to tackle covid, and in Los Angeles a chemical spill triggered smell complaints.
The Washington Post:
Burger King And Chick-Fil-A Commit To Removing "Forever Chemicals" From Food Packaging
Some of America’s favorite restaurants have just committed to taking something off consumers’ plates. Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes, announced plans late Wednesday to phase out these chemicals in its food packaging worldwide by 2025. Chick-fil-A announced a similar commitment Wednesday evening on Twitter to phase out these chemicals in packaging by the end of this summer. (Reiley, 3/24)
Consumer Reports:
Revealed: The Dangerous Chemicals In Your Food Wrappers
Independent testing of more than 100 packaging products from US restaurant and grocery chains identified PFAS chemicals in many of the wrappers, a Consumer Reports investigation has found. The potentially dangerous “forever chemicals“ were found in food packaging including paper bags for french fries, wrappers for hamburgers, molded fiber salad bowls and single-use paper plates. (Loria, 3/24)
In other news about environmental health —
Southern California News Group:
Fogging Company Used Mislabeled Pesticides In California City Purportedly To Kill Coronavirus
A company executive has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges alleging his fogging disinfection business applied pesticides inconsistent with their intended use to purportedly kill the coronavirus in Culver City. Prosecutors have recommended that David Earl Gillies, managing partner of Utah-based Mountain Fog, receive two years probation and be ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for two misdemeanor counts of using a pesticide in a manner inconsistent with its labeling. Gillies, reached by phone at his home Wednesday, March 23, said he does not agree with how his case was handled. (Schwebke, 3/24)
Los Angeles Times:
Compton Chemical Spill Triggers Hundreds Of Odor Complaints
More than 200 odor complaints poured in to air quality regulators Thursday after a bag containing a chemical used to make plastic sheeting broke open at a Compton plant in the early morning, prompting investigations. The incident began around 1:30 a.m. when a roughly 300-pound bag of the chemical was placed into an oven at the Plaskolite plant, according to Roger Hamilton, the company’s vice president of operations. The bag split open around 3:30 a.m. and started emitting a strong odor. The leaked chemical is methyl methacrylate, or MMA, which is also used in superglue, Hamilton said. (Seidman, 3/24)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
No Charges Filed In Milwaukee Health Department Lead Program Probe
No criminal charges will be filed in a years-long investigation into the Milwaukee Health Department's handling of its childhood lead poisoning prevention program, officials announced Thursday. The Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office determined there was insufficient evidence to prove that a crime had been committed, based on a review of an investigation by the state Department of Justice, the DA's Office said in a statement. The office also noted lack of clarity in state law, unreliable Health Department records, and conflicting witness statements as challenges in bringing any criminal charges. (Dirr and Spicuzza, 3/24)
Bloomberg:
Is It Possible To Avoid Microplastics? Particles Found In Human For First Time
Microplastics were detected in human blood for the first time, according to a study that may indicate the potential for particles to travel to organs. Scientists found 17 out of the 22 healthy people they took samples from had quantifiable amounts of plastic particles in their blood. Researchers said further study is needed to determine the health risks of the materials. (Matsuyama, 3/25)
