EU Bans 'Forever Chemicals' in Food Packaging, Testing Southern Agriculture

New EU restrictions on toxic substances known as 'forever chemicals' in food packaging kicked in Wednesday, along with broader rules on cutting packaging waste in the bloc, according to The Local Italy. The measures target per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals linked to health problems that have been widely used in greaseproof paper, pizza boxes and other food containers.

The regulations are part of a wider European push to reduce the environmental and health footprint of packaging, a sector that generates millions of tonnes of waste each year. For Italy, the change touches a food industry that is deeply integrated with European supply chains, from the olive oil of Puglia to the pasta and preserved vegetables of the South.