US modified speciality starch producer Penford Products (Cedar Rapids, Iowa; www.penford.com) has developed a natural solution to replace fluorochemicals used in food packaging applications. The technology is currently being tested by major food packaging materials producers in the US. Penford said that prototype products produced using its process have performance characteristics at least equivalent to products made with fluorochemicals and that the technology has been developed to be used in existing food packaging production equipment.

Fluorochemicals are presently used in linings in some food packaging products to provide oil and grease resistance in growing market segments including sandwich wraps, French fry scoops and microwave popcorn bags. Recent research has indicated that they break down to release perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and that human exposure to PFOA can result from consumption of food products that have come in contact with fluorochemical-based coatings. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been investigating PFOA due to its persistence in the environment, presence in the human blood stream and other adverse effects that PFOA has been shown to have in laboratory animals (see: www.epa.gov/oppt/pfoa/).

Tom Malkoski, CEO of parent company Penford Corporation, said: “We are truly excited with the development of these naturally-derived solutions to address the health and environmental concerns created by use of traditional fluorochemicals. This new product platform aligns with our strategy to create value for our customers by developing sustainable products to replace petroleum-derived materials.”