On December 19, 2024, a group of health advocates represented by nonprofit law organization Earthjustice sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to force the agency to reevaluate its decades-old authorizations for the use of certain phthalates in food contact materials.
The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit because FDA denied their petition requesting the agency revoke the food contact approvals for 28 phthalates. FDA says approvals for the majority of those phthalates have been revoked, and that the remaining phthalates are slated for safety reassessment. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on behalf of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, the Center for Environmental Health, the Center for Food Safety, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Defend Our Health, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois.
The Phthalate Problem
Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics more flexible, durable, and transparent. At present, nine phthalates are approved by FDA for use in food contact materials. There is evidence linking phthalates to birth defects, infertility, preterm birth, impaired childhood neurodevelopment, and other adverse effects to human health. For example, a 2022 study demonstrated a causal link between di-(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), a phthalate still authorized for food contact, and the growth of tumors. phthalates. In January 2024, testing conducted by Consumer Reports found the presence of phthalates in nearly every food that was sampled.
According to FDA, the existing approved food contact uses for phthalates are slated for review—but the agency is not moving quickly enough for consumer advocates and Congress members. Earthjustice says FDA’s authorizations are based on safety assessments that are at least 40 years old. “The harms from phthalates leaching into our foods are serious, and most importantly, they are preventable,” said CSPI President Peter G. Lurie, M.D., M.P.H. “FDA has failed to consider decades of accumulating scientific evidence in the record that the continued use of phthalates is unsafe, and the agency also failed to fully consider the cumulative effects of exposure to multiple phthalates, as the law requires.”Petition to Revoke Food Contact Authorizations for Phthalates Denied; Senators Take Petitioners Side
The Earthjustice lawsuit was filed on behalf of consumer protection groups that submitted a petition (Food Additive Petition 6B4815) to FDA in 2016 requesting the agency amend or revoke specified regulations to no longer provide for the food contact use of 28 ortho-phthalates. According to Earthjustice, FDA did not respond to this petition for six years, until the petitioners forced a response by suing the agency in 2021. FDA then denied the petition in 2022, and upheld the denial decision after pressures to reconsider in October 2024.
The lawsuit filed against FDA is not the only external pressure the agency is facing to revoke authorizations for phthalate uses in food contact materials. On October 3, just weeks prior to FDA’s decision to uphold its denial of Food Additive Petition 6B4815, U.S. Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., urging the agency to revoke its authorization for phthalates in food contact materials. The senators argued that FDA has the legal authority to independently revoke its authorizations for phthalates if the approved food contact uses do not meet the safety standards established by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and encouraged FDA to conduct a review of current scientific evidence to make such a determination. The senators also suggested FDA revoke its authorization of phthalates in food contact materials by granting the relief requested in the (then-pending) objections to FDA’s denial of Food Additive Petition 6B4815
I purged years ago when I was trying to figure out why my body was so messed up. Enlarged thyroid and an extremely crazy cycle pattern. (Normal females have a 28-32 day menstrual cycle, I could go 80-125 days). Doctors were clueless (”Durrr, try this pill.”) so I started eliminating things that could impact my body. Artificial fragrance was the first thing I got rid of.
Yes. I did quite a few things to change the damage. After over ten years of being barren, my body was able to birth a perfect tiny human almost 16 months ago. The whole journey just solidified my faith in Christ and it all points to Him.
Eggs, butter and animal fats are crucial for feminine overall health.
That's marvelous! God is good. God is Great! You should consider writing a detailed post of what you did because a lot of people here are very interested in health related topics and I bet they would appreciate reading about your journey. That is, if you'd feel comfortable doing that. Regardless, that's great and thanks for sharing what you have.
Phthalates while bad for you in any meaningful quantity, one doesn't get anywhere close to this while spritzing themselves. Or is it possible that really we're meant to keep on reproducing into old age and its the over-usage of perfumes that's been stopping this cycle all along? Everyone complaining of their grandmas smelling bad is what prevents us from often having children older than their technical aunts and uncles? I am being completely silly here only... but ya, at the same time... doesn't sound like the FDA should approve this for food use in any degree even if safe in perfumes.
When I was a teen, I would get those cheap, 3 dollar bottles of body mist and make a CLOUD of spray before waltzing in and inhaling as much as possible. I believe too much of that can cause long term thyroid problems.
Gave up fragrances years ago, and honestly, once you're adjusted to being scent-free things with fragrances are offensive smelling... Soaps, air fresheners, fabric softeners, etc. You're so much better off without them.
I don't think we can manufacture with the stuff though. Not in Cali. There was a company that imported a few old but unused drums of it from Europe and they got fined, as I dimly recall.
Another X comment to video
josette caruso X
It’s even worse-
On December 19, 2024, a group of health advocates represented by nonprofit law organization Earthjustice sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to force the agency to reevaluate its decades-old authorizations for the use of certain phthalates in food contact materials.
The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit because FDA denied their petition requesting the agency revoke the food contact approvals for 28 phthalates. FDA says approvals for the majority of those phthalates have been revoked, and that the remaining phthalates are slated for safety reassessment. Earthjustice filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on behalf of Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, the Center for Environmental Health, the Center for Food Safety, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Defend Our Health, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Learning Disabilities Association of Illinois.
The Phthalate Problem Phthalates are chemicals used to make plastics more flexible, durable, and transparent. At present, nine phthalates are approved by FDA for use in food contact materials. There is evidence linking phthalates to birth defects, infertility, preterm birth, impaired childhood neurodevelopment, and other adverse effects to human health. For example, a 2022 study demonstrated a causal link between di-(2-ethylhexyl) (DEHP), a phthalate still authorized for food contact, and the growth of tumors. phthalates. In January 2024, testing conducted by Consumer Reports found the presence of phthalates in nearly every food that was sampled.
According to FDA, the existing approved food contact uses for phthalates are slated for review—but the agency is not moving quickly enough for consumer advocates and Congress members. Earthjustice says FDA’s authorizations are based on safety assessments that are at least 40 years old. “The harms from phthalates leaching into our foods are serious, and most importantly, they are preventable,” said CSPI President Peter G. Lurie, M.D., M.P.H. “FDA has failed to consider decades of accumulating scientific evidence in the record that the continued use of phthalates is unsafe, and the agency also failed to fully consider the cumulative effects of exposure to multiple phthalates, as the law requires.”Petition to Revoke Food Contact Authorizations for Phthalates Denied; Senators Take Petitioners Side The Earthjustice lawsuit was filed on behalf of consumer protection groups that submitted a petition (Food Additive Petition 6B4815) to FDA in 2016 requesting the agency amend or revoke specified regulations to no longer provide for the food contact use of 28 ortho-phthalates. According to Earthjustice, FDA did not respond to this petition for six years, until the petitioners forced a response by suing the agency in 2021. FDA then denied the petition in 2022, and upheld the denial decision after pressures to reconsider in October 2024.
The lawsuit filed against FDA is not the only external pressure the agency is facing to revoke authorizations for phthalate uses in food contact materials. On October 3, just weeks prior to FDA’s decision to uphold its denial of Food Additive Petition 6B4815, U.S. Senators Edward Markey (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D., urging the agency to revoke its authorization for phthalates in food contact materials. The senators argued that FDA has the legal authority to independently revoke its authorizations for phthalates if the approved food contact uses do not meet the safety standards established by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and encouraged FDA to conduct a review of current scientific evidence to make such a determination. The senators also suggested FDA revoke its authorization of phthalates in food contact materials by granting the relief requested in the (then-pending) objections to FDA’s denial of Food Additive Petition 6B4815
https://x.com/josettecaruso/status/1874090370297930118
For anyone who vapes, choose the plain nicotine with glycerine type. DON'T use flavors!
Yuka is also a good app. It has a carrot on the app. It’s free and you can scan unlimited QR codes for free. It also gives you alternative for free.
If you want to put the name of something in then you have to pay.
I purged years ago when I was trying to figure out why my body was so messed up. Enlarged thyroid and an extremely crazy cycle pattern. (Normal females have a 28-32 day menstrual cycle, I could go 80-125 days). Doctors were clueless (”Durrr, try this pill.”) so I started eliminating things that could impact my body. Artificial fragrance was the first thing I got rid of.
Were you able to eventually fix your body?
Yes. I did quite a few things to change the damage. After over ten years of being barren, my body was able to birth a perfect tiny human almost 16 months ago. The whole journey just solidified my faith in Christ and it all points to Him.
Eggs, butter and animal fats are crucial for feminine overall health.
That's marvelous! God is good. God is Great! You should consider writing a detailed post of what you did because a lot of people here are very interested in health related topics and I bet they would appreciate reading about your journey. That is, if you'd feel comfortable doing that. Regardless, that's great and thanks for sharing what you have.
Freaking AWESOME, girl!!!
Phthalates while bad for you in any meaningful quantity, one doesn't get anywhere close to this while spritzing themselves. Or is it possible that really we're meant to keep on reproducing into old age and its the over-usage of perfumes that's been stopping this cycle all along? Everyone complaining of their grandmas smelling bad is what prevents us from often having children older than their technical aunts and uncles? I am being completely silly here only... but ya, at the same time... doesn't sound like the FDA should approve this for food use in any degree even if safe in perfumes.
When I was a teen, I would get those cheap, 3 dollar bottles of body mist and make a CLOUD of spray before waltzing in and inhaling as much as possible. I believe too much of that can cause long term thyroid problems.
I’m happy to hear I’m past child bearing years. I’m not giving up my unstoppable’s. 😂😂😂
Gave up fragrances years ago, and honestly, once you're adjusted to being scent-free things with fragrances are offensive smelling... Soaps, air fresheners, fabric softeners, etc. You're so much better off without them.
the hippies lost! get a job!
I don't think we can manufacture with the stuff though. Not in Cali. There was a company that imported a few old but unused drums of it from Europe and they got fined, as I dimly recall.
To sprunt or not to sprunt...
That is the question