Exclusive: Maker of 'forever chemicals' cuts food packaging products

By Catherine Boudreau | Politico | August 9, 2019

Read full article by Catherine Boudreau (Politico)

"Chemical giant and Teflon maker Chemours has quietly stopped making some non-stick coatings used in disposable food packaging amid public debate about their health effects, the company told POLITICO.

The DuPont spinoff said it no longer manufactures three products containing PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in the U.S. or globally that were applied to paper food packaging to resist oil and grease. The company told POLITICO it has also asked the Food and Drug Administration to voluntarily withdraw approval of the products.

Chemours did not comment on why it decided to stop making the three PFAS-based products, only stating that its business is more focused on other markets like consumer electronics, energy storage and automotives. Manufacturers of PFAS maintain the chemicals are not a public health risk, and FDA previously backed them up, signing off on the safety of dozens of food-packaging uses of the chemicals. However, the agency said this summer it had launched a review because new evidence suggests they may be harmful...."