No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would deem a long list of toxic chemicals unsafe for use in food contact materials. It would add those substances to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, require FDA to consider harms to vulnerable populations when evaluating substitute substances, and delay the rule's applicability for 2 years after enactment.
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- Families and children would face fewer sources of exposure because common classes named include PFAS, ortho-phthalates, and bisphenols, plus chemicals like benzene, formaldehyde, and asbestos, by barring their use in food-contact materials.
- Workers are explicitly listed as a vulnerable population, so FDA would need to weigh workplace exposure risks when reviewing petitions for alternative substances.
- State and local governments could keep or adopt stronger rules and pursue state remedies, because the bill establishes a federal minimum standard without preempting stricter local laws.
- Manufacturers and regulators would get a 2-year window to adjust before the new restrictions apply, giving time to find and vet alternatives.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Two-year delay before rule starts
If enacted, this would make the new food-contact rules apply starting two years after the date of enactment. That would give manufacturers and packagers two years to comply. It would also postpone when households gain the health protections created by the new rule.
Ban toxic chemicals in packaging
If enacted, this would deem a long list of chemicals unsafe for use in food-contact materials under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. That would effectively bar those substances from food packaging and require manufacturers and suppliers to remove or replace them. The Secretary would also have to consider harms to vulnerable groups when reviewing proposed alternatives. Examples include ortho-phthalates, PFAS, and several bisphenols among other listed chemicals.
States can keep stricter packaging rules
If enacted, this would make the federal provision a minimum public-health standard and would not stop states or localities from keeping or adopting stronger rules on food-contact materials. It would also generally preserve state-level lawsuits and consumer protections unless those laws conflict with the new federal subsection.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov