Phthalate chemicals are used to make plastic products more pliable. Used in all types of commercial applications, they can be found throughout the food supply chain, including conveyor belts used during food production, plastic gloves worn to handle food, and containers and wrappings used for food packaging.
“Plastics containing phthalates that come in contact with our food can leach the harmful chemicals into what we eat, creating serious health problems for people of all ages,” said Senator Feinstein. “I’m particularly concerned about the effect on children and adolescents whose bodies are rapidly developing. They’re more likely to eat packaged or fast food, which have higher levels of phthalates. Our bill would reduce exposure to phthalate chemicals by requiring safer alternatives in anything that comes in contact with our food.”
This bill is part of Senator Feinstein’s ongoing effort to remove harmful phthalates from consumer products. In 2007, she authored the Children’s Chemical Risk Reduction Act to ban phthalates in toys and other children’s products. That provision was included in the broader Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act that was signed into law by President Bush in 2008.
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