TSCA Reform and Cereal

I haven't talked about TSCA since April (TSCA primer here).  Movement on the Hill has come in fits and starts and things are still creeping along.

 

Today's Washington Post article on a Kellogg's cereal recall illustrates how the current iteration of TSCA has failed.  It deserves a read.

 

In short, 2-methylnaphthalene somehow ended up in some Kellogg's cereal and a whole bunch of cereal is heading back to the factory.  According to ATSDR, 2-methylnaphthalene  is generally found in dyes and resins, and is used to make Vitamin K.  It is not found in food.

 

2-methylnaphthalene:

Is 2-methylnaphthalene toxic?  Based on the structure and the toxicity of  its cousin naphthalene, one would guess yes.  The EPA and FDA don't really know because they don't have the resources to conduct the research themselves nor the authority to mandate that manufacturers provide the relevant data.

 

Read the article here.