Allegations that food-contact paper made with DuPont materials contain unsafe levels of PFOA (C8) are false.

These products are safe for consumer use.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has researched this very question using state-of-the-art methodology and measurement techniques and the agency continues to routinely monitor new developments in scientific knowledge.  FDA has cleared these materials for consumer use since the late 1960s, and DuPont has complied with FDA regulations and standards regarding these products.

The document released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) deals with Zonyl® RP, which is a very small part of DuPont's paper coating business.  Our scientists have tested Zonyl® RP and other fluorotelomers used as paper coatings to find out the levels of PFOA that can be extracted from these products.  We have concluded that these levels are minute and the paper products are safe for consumer use.  We have shared the results of our research with FDA, and we continue to update FDA as new information becomes available.

In a Nov. 16, 2005, letter to DuPont , FDA stated:  "At this time, we have no reason to change our position that the use of both perfluorocarbon resin and telomer-based coatings are safe for use in contact with food as described in the applicable regulations or notifications."  Further, FDA stated that fluorotelomer migration from coating paper "should not be equated to PFOA exposure."  In its tests, FDA found that migration of PFOA from microwave popcorn bags coated with telomer-based products were "at a level below the standard of quantification for the analytical technique (less than 1 part per billion in food)."

Glenn Evers, who participated in EWG's news conferences, was employed by DuPont until 2002, when he lost his job in a restructuring.

Mr. Evers later testified at a deposition in the West Virginia PFOA litigation, despite having had little if any direct involvement in PFOA issues while employed at DuPont.  In his deposition, Mr. Evers expressed a wide range of personal opinions that are inaccurate, counter to FDA's findings, and which DuPont strongly disputes.  Mr. Evers recently filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against DuPont which the company is contesting.

11/17/05