Long-anticipated advances in food packaging are coming sooner rather than later as developers take advantage of the FDA's Pre-Market Notification (PMN) initiative for food-contact materials.
A petition for BP Amoco's monomers, copolymers and blends for producing heat-tolerant polyethylene napthalate (PEN) languished for years until BP switched to PMN review last fall. PMN requires FDA to respond to petitions within 120 days; four monthsand one day later, the firm received its letter of nonobjection from FDA, clearing the way for commercial application.