France Bans Plastic FCMs in Schools; Plans to ban TiO2 in Food

The lower house of parliament of the French National Assembly has voted to ban the use of plastic food contact materials (FCMs) used by catering services at daycares, schools and universities serving more than 2,000 people. If this new rule passes, it would go into effect on January 1, 2025. If it becomes law, the use of plastic containers for cooking, heating and serving food would be prohibited.

French policy makers have also passed an amendment which would ban titanium dioxide and its use in food by the end of 2018. According to the French government, TiO2 as an additive in food contributes no nutritional value and is only used to enhance the aesthetic of food. The additive is primarily used in sweets in order to create a white, opaque or cloudy effect and a substitute for the additive has been difficult to find. The final vote of the law is scheduled for mid-summer 2018 will endorse the TiO2 ban.