Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging

Current understanding

Federal legislative proposals periodically seek to restrict toxic chemicals (including PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols, and heavy metals) in food-contact materials and packaging. As of late 2026, HR9231 (No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026) has been introduced and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; no federal restriction has been enacted, though several states have passed their own food-packaging chemical bans. Practical effects would depend on scope, covered substances, and compliance timelines for manufacturers.

Evidence log

• 2025-07-17 — Microplastics Safety Act: cross-connection with microplastics-safety-act: Microplastics safety intersects with food-contact material regulation, since plastic packaging is a documented exposure route. (novelty: 3)
• 2026-07-06 — Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act of 2026: cross-connection with pfas-regulation: HR9593 links PFAS regulation with food packaging chemical restrictions, targeting PFAS specifically as grease-resistant coatings in food containers. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-24 — No Lead in Toys Act: Cross-reference: S4932 (No Lead in Toys Act) introduced and referred to Senate Commerce Committee — parallel legislative track targeting heavy metals in consumer products rather than food-contact materials, but part of the broader toxics-in-consumer-goods policy landscape. (novelty: 2)
• 2026-05-28 — Color Additive Petition from Environmental Defense Fund, et al.; Request To Amend the Color Additive Regulations To Remove the Solvents Ethylene Dichloride, Methylene Chloride, and Trichloroethylene; Reopening of the Comment Period: 2025 — FDA reopened the public comment period on the Environmental Defense Fund et al. petition seeking to amend color additive regulations to remove the solvents ethylene dichloride, methylene chloride, and trichloroethylene, allowing submission of updated data on these food-contact substances (novelty: 2, proposed-rule). (novelty: 2)
• 2026-06-09 — No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026: cross-connection with pfas-regulation: PFAS are among the toxic substances commonly targeted by food-packaging chemical restriction bills; regulatory action in one venue (drinking water monitoring) often runs parallel to legislative efforts on food-contact uses. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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