Food packaging is of high societal value because it conserves and protects food, makes food transportable and conveys information to consumers. It is also relevant for marketing, which is of economic significance. Other types of food contact articles, such as storage containers, processing equipment and filling lines, are also important for food production and food supply. Food contact articles are made up of one or multiple different food contact materials and consist of food contact chemicals. However, food contact chemicals transfer from all types of food contact materials and articles into food and, consequently, are taken up by humans. Here we highlight topics of concern based on scientific findings showing that food contact materials and articles are a relevant exposure pathway for known hazardous substances as well as for a plethora of toxicologically uncharacterized chemicals, both intentionally and non-intentionally added. We describe areas of certainty, like the fact that chemicals migrate from food contact articles into food, and uncertainty, for example unidentified chemicals migrating into food. Current safety assessment of food contact chemicals is ineffective at protecting human health. In addition, society is striving for waste reduction with a focus on food packaging. As a result, solutions are being developed toward reuse, recycling or alternative (non-plastic) materials. However, the critical aspect of chemical safety is often ignored. Developing solutions for improving the safety of food contact chemicals and for tackling the circular economy must include current scientific knowledge. This cannot be done in isolation but must include all relevant experts and stakeholders. Therefore, we provide an overview of areas of concern and related activities that will improve the safety of food contact articles and support a circular economy. Our aim is to initiate a broader discussion involving scientists with relevant expertise but not currently working on food contact materials, and decision makers and influencers addressing single-use food packaging due to environmental concerns. Ultimately, we aim to support science-based decision making in the interest of improving public health. Notably, reducing exposure to hazardous food contact chemicals contributes to the prevention of associated chronic diseases in the human population.

中文翻译：

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食品接触化学品对人类健康的影响：共识声明。

食品包装具有很高的社会价值，因为它可以保存和保护食品，使食品可运输并将信息传达给消费者。它也与营销有关，这具有经济意义。其他类型的食品接触物品，例如存储容器，加工设备和灌装线，对于食品生产和食品供应也很重要。食品接触物品由一种或多种不同的食品接触材料制成，并由食品接触化学品组成。然而，食品接触化学品从所有类型的食品接触材料和物品转移到食品中，因此被人类吸收。在这里，我们基于科学发现突出显示了令人关注的主题，表明食品接触材料和物品是已知有害物质以及大量有毒，无特征化学物质（有意和无意添加）的相关暴露途径。我们描述了确定性领域，例如化学物质从食品接触物品迁移到食物中的事实，以及不确定性（例如未识别的化学物质迁移到食物中的事实）。当前对食品接触化学品的安全评估对保护人类健康无效。另外，社会正在致力于减少浪费，重点是食品包装。结果，正在开发针对再利用，再循环或替代（非塑料）材料的解决方案。但是，化学安全的关键方面经常被忽略。开发提高食品接触化学品安全性和应对循环经济的解决方案必须包括当前的科学知识。这不能孤立地完成，而必须包括所有相关专家和利益相关者。因此，我们提供了有关关注领域和相关活动的概述，这些领域和相关活动将改善食品接触物品的安全性并支持循环经济。我们的目标是发起一个更广泛的讨论，其中包括具有相关专业知识但目前尚未从事食品接触材料研究的科学家以及由于环境问题而针对一次性食品包装的决策者和影响者。最终，我们旨在支持基于科学的决策，以改善公共卫生。值得注意的是