Recycled plastics are a nightmare concoction of BPA and phthalates, but recycling makes a great cover story for “greenwashing” the plastics industry

 Recycled plastics are a nightmare concoction of BPA and phthalates, but recycling makes a great cover story for “greenwashing” the plastics industry The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is facing mounting criticism over its lack of oversight concerning the recycled plastics that are used in new food packaging.

Researchers warn that chemical companies are practically regulating themselves, incorporating a nightmare concoction of phthalates and BPA into recycled plastics.

For example, major companies like Coca-Cola and General Mills have adopted recycled plastics for their products, including Coca-Cola’s 100% recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles and General Mills' Annie’s cereal boxes with 35% recycled plastic liners.

FDA’s review of recycled plastics is a voluntary process that allows companies to do whatever they want Since the early 1990s, the FDA has approved over 340 voluntary applications for food contact materials made from recycled plastics, with the number of approvals increasing significantly in recent years.

The recycling process itself introduces additional complexities.

Approvals for recycled plastic products have tripled since 2019, going from 7-8 approvals per year prior to 2019 to an average of 23 approvals per year since.

Studies indicate that recycled PET, commonly used in bottles, can harbor substances like bisphenol-A (BPA), phthalates and other hazardous chemicals at higher levels than virgin PET.

https://www.naturalnews.com/2024-08-29-recycled-plastics-a-nightmare-concoction-bpa-phthalates.html