> Schaider was surprised to find that some [food containers] contained PFOA, a type of fluorinated chemical that U.S. manufacturers had agreed to phase out of f

> Schaider was surprised to find that some [food containers] contained PFOA, a type of fluorinated chemical that U.S. manufacturers had agreed to phase out of food packaging by 2011 and altogether in 2015. The containers may have come from old inventory or from China, where production has continued unabated. Even with regulations, the government doesn't seem to follow up and ensure adherence. There's a lot of valid discussion about "security theater" at airports. And, with stories like this, I sometimes think we have a kind of "safety regulation theater" in the US too. Laws are passed banning a poisonous substance or a dangerous industry practice of some kind and everybody celebrates the righteous victory. But then the government stops paying attention and we still have these banned chemicals leaching into our food. A lot of us seem to believe that simply passing a law solves the problem, end of story.