Why PFAS are uniquely challenging

Claire Sand, Ph.D. is a global packaging leader with 40 years of experience in food science and packaging. As founder of Packaging Technology and Research LLC, her mission is to enable a more sustainable food system by advancing innovations that extend food shelf life and reduce waste.

Dr. Sand specializes in leading cross-functional teams, developing technology strategies, and creating implementation roadmaps for complex packaging challenges across the value chain. With over 150 publications to her credit, she is a regular contributor to leading food science and packaging publications and has held adjunct faculty positions at Michigan State University and California Polytechnic State University.

Her industry recognition includes Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Fellow status and the Riester-Davis-Brody Lifetime Achievement Award in Food Packaging. She serves on numerous editorial boards, authored The Packaging Value Chain, and co-chairs PACfoodwaste, a collaborative initiative addressing food waste through packaging innovation. Dr. Sand's career spans leadership roles at General Mills, Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, Safeway, and Total Quality Marketing, with international experience in Germany, Colombia, and Thailand across R&D, market research, and commercialization. She holds a Ph.D. in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and both M.S. and B.S. degrees in Packaging from Michigan State University.

In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Dr. Claire Sand [19:45] about:

• Her background in packaging science, early research on migration standards in the EU, and career-long focus on food packaging and chemicals of concern
• How she defines "clean packaging" and the importance of using only essential, safe substances in food-contact materials
• Why per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present unique challenges compared with Bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates
• Why the origin of PFAS (i.e., intentionally vs. non-intentionally added) is becoming less relevant, and how this shift affects regulatory approaches and industry compliance
• Reasons why chemicals of concern (CoCs) are still used in direct food-contact packaging
• How varying regulations internationally and among U.S. states impact global brands and packaging suppliers, and why many companies choose to align with the strictest standards
• Key challenges in eliminating PFAS and other CoCs
• How CoCs intersect with state Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, and why cleaner recyclate is crucial to maximizing end-use value across markets
• Concerns with compostable or biodegradable packaging related to chemical contamination, sustainability, and regulations
• The potential for circular economy goals and CoC-free packaging to be synergistic, and the decisions industry may face about recycled content in direct food-contact applications
• Actions companies can take to ensure packaging is free of CoC, particularly when dealing with supply chain disruptions or supplier substitutions.

News and Resources

News

FDA Allows Foods with 'Natural' Food Dyes to Claim 'No Artificial Colors' [5:16]

FDA Begins Post-Market Safety Reassessment for BHA [6:40]

Boar's Head Reopens Production Facility Behind Fatal Listeriosis Outbreak [9:41]

FDA Petitioned to Stop Protecting Identity of Companies Involved in Foodborne Illness Outbreaks [13:35]

EU Sets Provisional Safe Level for CBD as Novel Food [16:44]

Resources

"Promising Practices are Being Used to Tackle PFAS in Food Packaging," by Dr. Clare Sand for the December '23/January '24 issue of Food Safety Magazine

"In Pursuit of Clean Packaging with No Chemicals of Concern," by Dr. Clare Sand for the December '22/January '23 issue of Food Safety Magazine

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