Read the full article by Michael Norton (WWLP-22 News)

“BOSTON, Mass. (SHNS)–Environmental activists are applauding Rhode Island for enacting a new law banning PFAS in food packaging, and a bill to do the same in Massachusetts is at risk of dying in committee without floor votes in either branch.

‘These toxic chemicals don’t belong anywhere, let alone in food packaging,’ Ben Hellerstein, state director for Environment Massachusetts, said on Wednesday. ‘Kudos to Rhode Island for taking this important step to protect the public from PFAS. I hope Massachusetts will soon become the next state to act.’

Report assesses PFAS use by major brands, retailers

MassPIRG, Clean Water Action, Massachusetts Sierra Club, and Community Action Works all urged Massachusetts lawmakers to start advancing the ban bill (S 2893 / H 4820), which cleared the Public Health Committee in early June but has been bottled up since then in the House and Senate Ways and Means committees.

Gov. Dan McKee signed a bill banning PFAS in food packaging on Tuesday, according to MassPIRG, making Rhode Island the ninth state to do so. The law prohibits food packaging to which PFAS have been intentionally added in any amount from being manufactured, knowingly sold, or distributed in Rhode Island, as of Jan. 1, 2024.” …