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Statement from Michael Belliveau, Executive Director, Defend Our Health, in response to Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s official letters to the corporations found in violation of Maine law banning phthalates in food packaging effective January 1, 2022 following Defend Our Health’s letter to Maine Attorney General Frey urging Frey to enforce the ban on chemicals in food packaging:

“We applaud Maine’s belated first-step to enforce the ban on toxic phthalates in food packaging mandated by the law passed in 2019. However, a small nonprofit like Defend Our Health should not have to do the State’s job to ensure compliance with laws to protect consumer health and the environment. The DEP has allowed corporations to remain in violation of a law that was supposed to take effect on January 1, 2022. There is no excuse for allowing these highly toxic chemicals to remain in our packaging. And there is certainly no excuse for illegal packaging of food and beverage products with chemicals that are supposed to be banned by law. Additionally, the market laggards have no excuse. While the vast majority of companies appear to be in compliance, Goya Foods and Constellation Brands continue to flout the law. Brand owners have had two and a half years to come into compliance, and there are readily available alternatives across the market that are phthalate-free. No corporation is above the law; and we appreciate that they are being addressed and have been given a timeline to take action, even though there has been notable delay.”