AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman this past week responded to recent media reports on fluorinated chemistry with the following statement:  

"AF&PA member companies do not use older, long-chained fluorinated chemistries such as PFOA and PFOS in the production of food contact paper and paperboard. They modified paper coating formulas many years ago and ahead of the 2016 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban on various long-chain PFAS chemicals. 

"FDA’s careful study and approval of the use of modern, short-chain PFAS chemicals allows for continued production of safe and reliable food packaging. Our companies remain committed to making products that consumers can trust and will continue to be industry leaders by taking voluntary action and complying with all regulations to ensure only safe materials are used in food packaging," Harmon stated.