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Toxic Chemical PFAS Found in McDonald’s Packaging

McDonald’s and Burger King declared that their food packaging used in China do not contain PFASs. The use of PFAS is subject to increasingly stringent supervision globally.

According to a report of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families recently,  PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a type of cancerogenic chemical has been detected in some food packages at fast food giants such as McDonald's and Burger King in the United States. [1] It triggered heated discussion on Chinese social media and later on Aug 10th, McDonald's China and Burger King China clarified that food packages used in China completely conform to relevant GB standards and do not contain PFASs.

Application of PFAS in Food Contact Material Area

PFAS is a kind of chemical with good waterproofness, oil resistance and heat stability. It is usually used as surfactant in industrial products such as oil paints, dental floss, umbrella, etc. [2] While in the industry of FCM sector, PFAS substances are usually used to produce non-stick pan coating, water and oil proofing coating. Among the PFAS substances, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the most typical one used in FCM products.

Global Regulation on PFAS

The use of PFAS in food contact materials are gradually abandoned globally.

  • In 2009, the UN Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants banned on producing and using PFOA (a type of PFAS substance). Over 180 countries agreed on this convention, including China.  

  • Five EU members (Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Danmark) drafted regulatory restrictions on the use of PFAS. Danmark published a new regulation to prohibit PFAS chemicals in paper and board food packaging in May 2020, which came into effect on July 1st, 2020. [3]

  • In July 2020, the U.S. FDA announced that four manufacturers producing certain PFAS used for grease-proofing in paper and paperboard for food packaging have voluntarily agreed to phase-out their sales of these substances for food-contact use in the United States. [4]

China GB Standards on PFAS and Future Trend

In China, the GB standards stipulating the use of PFAS in food contact materials include GB 4806.6-2016 Standard for Resins Used to Make Plastics in Contact with Foodstuffs, GB 9685-2016 Standard for Uses of Additives in Food Contact Materials and Articles, and GB 4806.10-2016 Standard for Paints and Coatings in Contact with Foodstuffs. ChemLinked suggests stakeholders should pay close attention to regulatory changes on PFAS internationally and try to avoid the use of PFAS substances in food contact materials in China. In the near future, the competent authority is likely to impose more stringent standards to regulate those poisonous substances, and it is also in line with the global trend.

* For more information related to PFAS, please contact food @chemlinked.com. 


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