No Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging Act of 2026

This bill amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to deem certain chemicals unsafe for use in food packaging, with a two-year delay before the rules take effect. Sec. 2, Substances deemed unsafe for use as food contact substances: The bill adds a new subsection to existing law listing specific chemicals and classes, including ortho-phthalates, PFAS, bisphenol A and related compounds, acrolein, acrylamide, BHA, chlorinated paraffins, 1,4-dioxane, asbestos, benzene, chloroform, methylene chloride, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, and styrene polymers, as unsafe for use as food contact substances. When reviewing petitions for alternative substances, the Secretary must consider potential adverse effects on vulnerable populations, defined as groups like infants, children, pregnant women, the elderly, those with medical conditions, exposed workers, and communities with disproportionate exposures. The bill states it sets a minimum public health standard and does not preempt state or local laws that are equivalent or more stringent, nor does it affect rights of action under such laws unless inconsistent. The new rules apply starting two years after the bill's enactment.