Plastic containers still distributed across the US are a potential health disaster.

Consumer groups are condemning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for allowing plastic containers made with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” to continue being distributed across the economy – even though the agency is suing a top manufacturer over the dangerous compounds leaching into containers’ contents, such as food or personal care products.

The groups are now intervening in the lawsuit and regulatory proceedings between the EPA and Inhance Technologies, which they estimate produces about 200m PFAS- contaminated plastic containers annually.

A review of regulatory documents, court filings and patent applications shows Inhance appears to have repeatedly lied to regulators and

Still, the EPA and the Department of Justice have not pointed out the company’s inconsistencies in court, and the groups have questioned whether industry influence at the EPA is playing a role in the agency’s decision-making.

A review of regulatory documents, court filings and patent applications shows Inhance appears to have repeatedly lied to regulators and customers about whether its containers shed PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) into products stored in them.

Last week, the groups formally asked the EPA to order Inhance to stop distributing the containers, and will soon file a motion asking a judge to do the same while highlighting the company’s inconsistent statements.

Thu 1 Jun 2023 06.00 EDT