Plastic is one of the most common materials used for food packaging. When designing plastic food packaging, manufacturers take into consideration the type of food and its contact time with the packaging, as well as the amount of heat that the plastic will be subjected to. Mr Patrick Tan Siong Kuan raised concerns about the ingestion of microplastics through the use of plastic food packaging (Single-use plastics still being used in food production chain, Dec 27, 2019). There is no scientific evidence thus far regarding the formation of microplastics via the use of plastic food packaging to handle food. While plastic food packaging does not pose food safety risks when properly used, there is a need to holistically manage the excessive use of single-use packaging in all parts of the value-chain, to conserve resources and extend the lifespan of our only landfill. This year, NEA will be introducing mandatory reporting of packaging data and 3R plans for packaging, covering companies that supply regulated goods into the Singapore market.... Continue Reading