The IAFNS Packaging Safety & Sustainability committee works to expand scientific knowledge on toxicology, exposure and risk assessment of food packaging substances and potential contaminants. The committee also works to identify and resolve barriers to adoption of safe, recycled packaging in support of a more sustainable food supply.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Abbott Nutrition
Conagra Brands
General Mills, Inc.
dddddddddddddd Henkel Corporation Keurig Dr Pepper
ACADEMIC ADVISORS
Keith Vorst, PhD, Iowa State University
Kay Cooksey, PhD, Clemson University
GOVERNMENT ADVISORS
Allan Bailey, PhD, FDA CFSAN
Kevin D. Smith, US Marine Corps
Research projects:
Despite significant advances in recycling science there remain hurdles to the broad utilization of recycled plastics including the availability of reliable and predictable sources of safe post-consumer material. This project will generate an in-depth survey of the plastic recycling landscape and identify safety issues and potential solutions to enable wide-scale production and adoption of recycled plastic. The project will leverage current frameworks for PET recovery and recycling to identify gaps and solutions for olefin recovery, recycling, and safety for food and beverage packaging. Results will also identify restricted and non-intentional added substances in recycled plastic along with mitigation options, and survey domestic and international recycling requirements such as certification rules and regulations pertaining to “clean” recycled plastic.
Conferences & Symposiums:
Roundtable on Sustainable Food Packaging
February 22, 2023, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Food Packaging Safety and Sustainability committee is hosting a virtual roundtable on sustainable food packaging. This event will bring together stakeholders and technical experts from food companies, retailers, packaging manufacturers, academic institutions, and government regulators to share sustainability initiatives and goals. The expected outcome is to identify and prioritize areas where IAFNS supported science can drive progress in meeting sustainability goals.
To learn more about this invitation-only event, please email science@iafns.org.
Projects Supported by the Committee:
Publications
All Publications
Chemicals in Food Packaging: A Review of Phthalates and Bisphenols
Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 2023
Read more about Chemicals in Food Packaging: A Review of Phthalates and Bisphenols
Machine-Learning-Based Predictions of Polymer and Postconsumer Recycled Polymer Properties: A Comprehensive Review
ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 2022
Machine learning (ML) algorithms are gaining attention as cost-effective scalable solutions to exploit the physical and chemical structures of polymers. The basic steps for applying ML in polymer science such as fingerprinting, algorithms, open-source databases, representations, and polymer design are outlined in this review.
Expanding Plastics Recycling Technologies: Chemical Aspects, Technology Status and Challenges
Green Chemistry, 2022
Chemists and chemical engineers need to understand the fundamentals of emerging technologies to design improved systems for chemical recycling and upcycling of waste plastics given that less than 10 percent of plastics globally are recycled.
Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food: Symposium Proceedings
Trends in Food Science & Technology, 2021
IAFNS organized a two-session symposium titled Identifying Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food.
Identification and Quantitation Studies of Migrants from BPA Alternative Food-Contact Metal Can Coatings
Polymers, 2020
In this study, four different metal cans and their lids manufactured with different BPA-replacement food-contact coatings are subjected to migration testing in order to identify migratory chemical species that may make their way into foods.
Events
Federal and State Efforts to Restrict PFAS: Impact on Food Companies
November 14, 2022
Virtual, Event
This webinar will highlight recent and upcoming state laws and federal-level actions that will likely impact food companies and their packaging suppliers. The webinar will also highlight EPA’s actions under the PFAS Strategic Roadmap and preview expected actions later in 2022 and beyond.
Read more about Federal and State Efforts to Restrict PFAS: Impact on Food Companies
IAFNS Virtual Symposium on Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
September 2, 2020
Virtual, Symposium
IAFNS is pleased to announce the second session in the symposium “Identifying Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Food”. This session will address risk characterization with a focus on exposure routes and toxicology, and will build on the first session on PFAS Analytical Methodology which was held June 23rd.
Read more about IAFNS Virtual Symposium on Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
Virtual Symposium: Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
June 23, 2020
Washington, DC, USA
This IAFNS virtual symposium aims to inform risk assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in foods and ingredients. The symposium will address analytical methods for PFAS in environmental and food sources, exposure routes from foods, known toxicity mechanisms and knowledge gaps.
Read more about Virtual Symposium: Science Gaps for Risk Assessment of PFAS in Food
IAFNS 2019 Food Packaging Conference: Scientific Advances and Challenges in Safety Evaluation of Food Packaging Materials
April 2, 2019 – April 3, 2019
Washington, DC, USA
IAFNS is hosting the 2019 Food Packaging Conference: Scientific Advances and Challenges in Safety Evaluation of Food Packaging Materials on April 2nd-3rd, 2019. The global two-day conference will bring together international and national experts from academia, government, industry and NGOs to share about toxicology, risk assessment and regulatory science as they relate to food packaging.
Regular & On-Site: | ||
16 Mar 2019 - 3 Apr 2019 | ||
Industry/For-Profit | $600 | $700 |
Government/Academia/Non-Profit* | FREE | $300 |
Student/Post Doc* | FREE | $300 |
*Capacity is limited. Register early! Hotel Accommodations
We have secured a room block at The Westin Washington, DC City Center, the venue for the 2019 Food Packaging Conference, with a nightly rate of $279, exclusive of state and local taxes. The room block ends 11 March 2019 but we recommend that you make your reservation in advance as space fills quickly. After you have successfully registered for your room you will receive an email confirmation. Please click here to reserve your room. Hotel Address:
The Westin Washington, D.C. City Center
1400 M St. NW
Washington, DC 20005 Travel Air Travel:
Washington, DC is located near three major airports: Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI). Reagan National Airport is located closest to DC and is accessible via its own Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines. If commuting to The Westin via Metro from DCA, hop on the blue line at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metro Stop and get off at McPherson Square (7 stops). You can also take a taxi, Uber or Lyft into DC. This will cost around $15-$25.
Dulles Airport is located 26 miles outside of DC in Virginia. To get downtown you can take a taxi, shuttle, Uber or Lyft. A taxi to DC will cost around $60-$70. BWI is the furthest but may offer better flight deals. All three airports offer domestic and international flights daily.
Metro:Metro is the most convenient way to get around DC. This public transportation system consists of six color-coded lines: Red, Blue, Orange, Silver, Green, and Yellow that are connected to each other via transfer stations. To ride Metro you must pay via a SmarTrip card which can be purchased at any Metro station with cash or credit. Most fares range from $2.25 - $6 per trip. Metro runs from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and from 7 a.m. to midnight on weekends. The closest Metro stop to the conference venue is McPherson Square, accessible via the orange, silver, and blue lines. Click here for more information about Metro. Taxi:
Another way to travel in DC is by taxi. There are many and all accept cash, credit and debit cards. Uber/Lyft:
To travel by uber or Lyft, download the app onto your smartphone and you can begin requesting a ride by entering the address of your destination. DC Circulator:
The DC Circulator travels along six specific routes and is affordable at just $1 per ride. International
When traveling to the 2019 Food Packaging Conference, the U.S. may require visitors to obtain a visa. This process can take a few weeks to several months to complete, so please be sure to apply early. For more information about your country's visa requirements, visit the U.S. State Department website for the latest information when planning your trip.
IAFNS can provide a formal invitation letter to assist with the visa submission process. Please contact Angela Roberts (angelar@iafnsconnect.wpengine.com) to request a letter.
Contact Us:
Discover DC:
Plan your trip Cherry Blossoms Free Attractions Downtown DC Beyond the National Mall Restaurants Plan your trip Cherry BlossomsDepending on the weather, the beginning of April is usually around the time cherry blossom trees reach peak bloom in DC. Check out the beautiful pink and white sights on the Tidal Basin.
If you're taking the Metro, use the Blue, Orange or Silver lines and exit at the Smithsonian stop. From there, it's a 10-15 minute walk to the Tidal Basin Welcome Area located at 1501 Maine Avenue SW. If you are taking the Metrobus, the 32, 34 or 36 routes will drop you off at the National Mall.
Free AttractionsThere are plenty of free attractions in Washington, DC:
National Museum of American HistoryKorean War Veterans Memorial
National Museum of the American Indian
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Anderson House
Arlington National Cemetery
National World War II Memorial
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
National Air and Space Museum
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Gallery of Art Downtown DC
Check out our top picks:
White HouseNational Mall and Memorial Parks
United States Capitol
Ford's Theatre
United States Botanic Garden Beyond the National Mall
Check out these 20 cool museums beyond the National Mall.
RestaurantsThere are plenty of restaurants within walking distance of the hotel:
0.1 miles from hotel:Lincoln
West Wing Café Thomas Circle
10 Thomas Restaurant
Stans Restaurant and Lounge 0.2 miles from hotel:
Quill
The Pig
Baan Thai
B Too
&pizza
Churchkey
Birch and Barley
Elizabeth's Gone Raw
Siren
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