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Comment by code_duck | Hacker News Reader

Unfortunately, like BPA, they will likely replace it with something just as harmful but less tested, since chemical regulations in the US work on a blacklist and not a whitelist.

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So which countries use the whilelist approach?

The EU

So how did PFAS get into EU food packaging if they use the whitelist approach? And why are they only now starting to ban it?

https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9292-eu-poised-to-make-...

Because PFAS were considered inert and safe for the longest time. And they are widespread across applications and industries. However, they are in the process to be phased out completely. PFOA are already restricted, I think.

Source?

Europe produces a ton of chemicals and I seriously doubt they wait 20 years for long term and wide spread studies before putting products out.

A whitelist does not imply 20 years testing data. It means, allowed substances need to be explicitly authorized before introduction to the consumer market.

For food, pharmacological and cosmetic ingredients, the EFSA requires scientific evaluation concluding no harmful effects in advance. Of course, if later harmful effects are observed authorization can be withdrawn. This is in contrast to e.g. the FDA process where such substances do not have to be demonstrated safe like that beforehand, AFAIK.

https://food.ec.europa.eu/safety/chemical-safety_en

https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/chemicals-strategy...

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