IRELAND – Ireland has introduced mandatory health labeling on alcoholic drinks, becoming the first country in the world to do so. Following a new law being signed off by government officials, the labels on alcoholic drinks sold in Ireland will soon begin to highlight the grams of alcohol, the calorie content for each product along with any associated health risks…
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Packaging drinks in used plastic bottles unsafe, Experts warns
NIGERIA – Medical and food safety professionals have kicked against the practice of bottling locally made drinks in plastic bottles, noting that it is unsafe for consumption and dangerous to health. The experts said certain chemicals in plastic bottles can leach from the plastic into the drinks. They further noted that the practice could also cause all manner of infections…
Read MoreStudy questions safety of recycled polyethene plastic for food packaging
UK – A team of researchers at Brunel University, University College London and Qatar University have raised concerns about the safety of using recycled polyethelene plastic for food, due to the chemicals it carries. The researchers conducted a comprehensive analysis of 116 studies on PE packaging to investigate the potential chemical risks associated with its use. The report titled ‘Unpacking…
Read MorePlastic packaging increases fresh food waste: Study reveals
UK – A new report published by the sustainability charity Wrap has revealed plastic packaging of fresh produce increases food waste and plastic pollution. The study was conducted over several months and analyzed the relationship between plastic packaging and fresh food waste. Researchers examined various factors such as the shelf life of produce, consumer behavior and the environmental repercussions of…
Read MoreTurkana County partners with Peace Wind Japan to explore waste management systems
KENYA – The Turkana County Government will collaborate with a Japanese non-governmental organization (NGO) known as Peace Wind Japan to explore ways of enhancing waste management systems in Turkana. The County Executive for Tourism, Culture, Natural Resources, and Climate Change, Francis Mariao, chaired a consultative meeting to plan a roadmap for the implementation of the three-year program. The project’s objective…
Read MoreArla Foods taps on HOLMRIS B8 expertise to covert surplus plastic into chairs
DENMARK – Dairy firm Arla Foods has collaborated with furniture manufacturer HOLMRIS B8 and Danish furniture designer Mater to convert surplus milk cartons into chairs. In a LinkedIn post, Arla Foods says that the chair is made from a blend of surplus plastic from its milk carton production mixed with coffee shell waste – a byproduct from the coffee roasting…
Read MoreTesco switches to ‘best before’ dates on its yogurt packs to cut down on food waste
UK – British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer, Tesco has announced plans to remove ‘use by’ from all its yogurt packs and replace it with ‘best before’ to reduce waste. The move includes Tesco’s Creamfields Greek Style Yogurt, Greek Style Yogurt, Finest Lemon Curd Yogurt and Creamfields Berry Medley Low Fat Yogurt. Tesco hopes that this move will “enable…
Read MoreNestlé approves Scodix Polymer PS850 for indirect food contact
SWITZERLAND – Swiss multinational food and drink company Nestlé has certified Scodix’s PolySense 850 (PS850) polymer in compliance with its Guidance Note on Packaging Inks. The certification marks the completion of successful migration tests of the PS850 polymer for secondary food contact at SQTS labs in Switzerland, according to Swiss Ordinance. The PS850 polymer, which adds both Spot UV and…
Read MoreSWEEP launches ‘Green Campus’ project to promote plastic circularity in Nigerian universities
NIGERIA – Statewide Waste and Environmental Education Foundation (SWEEP) with support from Coca-Cola has launched ‘Green Campus’ project in Nigeria’s universities. The “Green Campus” initiative was officially launched on April 5, 2023, at the University of Ibadan in Oyo State, Nigeria. The project aims to reduce plastic pollution on university campuses and encourage students to adopt the practice of a…
Read MoreCanadian food packaging contains toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, University of Toronto study reveals
CANADA – A study by University of Toronto has found ‘forever chemicals’ in several fast food packaging items, something scientists say is a first in Canada. The researchers at the University of Toronto (Canada), Indiana University (US) and University of Notre Dame (US) say their findings suggest that food packaging exposes people directly to these so-called “forever chemicals,” which have…
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