Packaging Scandal: Bonduelle and Unilever accused of concealing BPA use in France

FRANCE – French companies, including Bonduelle and Unilever, reportedly face fines over allegations of collusion to conceal the ongoing use of bisphenol A (BPA) in packaging, as per the French investigative news agency L’informé.

L’informé’s findings suggest that France’s official competition watchdog, L’Autorité de la Concurrence, is poised to impose fines of €20 million (US$21.8 million) on the implicated companies.

The anti-trust body declined to confirm the figures when questioned by Just Food but indicated that a decision on the investigation is expected to be published “in the next few days.”

In 2021, the watchdog initiated an inquiry encompassing 14 professional organizations and 101 companies allegedly complicit in refraining from disclosing “certain materials’ presence or composition in contact with food, to the detriment of consumers.”

The identities of the involved companies and associations were undisclosed initially. However, Bonduelle acknowledged its implication in the case within its 2022-2023 annual report.

The company addressed having received a “notification of grievance” and submitted observations within the stipulated timeframe, awaiting feedback on its comments.

L’informé’s recent report suggests Unilever’s potential involvement, alongside the French National Association of Food Industries (ANIA).

In 2021, Nestlé confirmed its French subsidiaries received objections concerning “communication on the removal of BPA from metal packaging in France.” Nestlé indicated their subsidiaries played a limited role and vowed to contest the allegations robustly.

France outlawed BPA usage in all food-related packaging since 2015. Although within the EU, BPA remains permissible in materials in contact with food.

Last year, the European Commission proposed banning BPA from food contact materials like plastic and coated packaging, following a significant reduction in the recommended daily intake by the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA).

The EU prohibited BPA from infant-feeding bottles in 2011 and from plastic bottles and food packaging for young children since September 2018.

A September 2023 European Environment Agency (EEA) report highlighted BPA levels surpassing acceptable health limits, with an EU human biomonitoring study revealing concerning exposure levels across 11 EU countries.

FoodDrinkEurope, the EU industry body, pledged adherence to new regulations while urging fairness, realism, proportionality, and evidence-based measures to avoid unwarranted packaging or food waste due to overregulation.

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