Environmental groups have sued the FDA, accusing the agency of endangering public health by allowing phthalates in food packaging despite mounting evidence of the chemicals' harmful effects.
Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Environmental advocates argue the FDA ignored scientific evidence linking phthalates in plastic packaging to developmental harm in children.
- The lawsuit follows an eight-year effort to ban phthalates, with the FDA repeatedly siding with industry claims that the chemicals are safe.
- Despite the European Union’s tighter regulations, the U.S. continues to allow their use in food containers, with advocates pushing for stricter controls.
Key quote:
“The FDA is knowingly putting millions of people in the US at risk of life-altering health problems by continuing to greenlight uses of phthalates that contaminate our food.”
— Katherine O’Brien, Earthjustice attorney
Why this matters:
Phthalates disrupt hormones and have been linked to birth defects and infertility, particularly affecting children. Without stricter regulations, consumers may unknowingly ingest these chemicals from everyday food packaging, raising concerns about long-term health impacts.
Read more: Nearly 200 compounds linked to breast cancer found in food packaging, tableware: Study
