December 2022 IFT Article With 30 years of experience across the food science and packaging spectrum, Dr Claire Sand through her company, Packaging Technology & Research, offers clients solutions using Strategy, Technology, Consulting and Coaching. ​   Want to know more about how this article affect your business? Reach out to Dr Sand on Linked In - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clairekoelschsand   Want to keep learning from Dr. Sand? View more of her presentations and articles at https://www.packagingtechnologyandresearch.com/expertise.html Dr. Claire Sand | Owner, Packaging Technology & Research, LLC; Adjunct Professor, Michigan State University; Columnist for Food Technology Magazine http://www.packagingtechnologyandresearch.com/

1. Maricel Maffini
on Chemicals
of Concern
December 2022
Connect with me at 612-807-5341 or
claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com
Dr Claire
Sand’s article
in IFT’s Food
Technology
Magazine

4. 4/16/23, 6:48 PM Maricel Maffini on Chemicals of Concern - IFT.org
endocrine disruption, and tissue engineering,
conducted studies on regulatory chemical testing
guidance, and submitted recommendations for
improvement to the FDA. As an independent
consultant, she successfully persuaded FDA to
eliminate unsafe uses of chemicals in food.
How did you become interested in
the connections between biology,
medicine, and food packaging?
I grew up on a dairy farm in Argentina and spent a
lot of time exploring nature and making
connections. As a young girl, I saw airplanes
fumigating crops and then saw the leaves shrinking
on the trees two days later. Another defining
experience was that a neighbor's son was a
biochemist and had a small laboratory set up in his
parents' living room. He would come once a week
and collect samples of blood and urine. I went there
once and was intrigued by the equipment, process,
and ideas. After high school, I went to biochemistry
school, and this was a blend of chemical
engineering, biology, and medicine and this gave
me a big perspective of how the body works and
created a thirst for more knowledge and a PhD.
What exactly is it about chemicals
of concern that makes you want to
get working each morning?
When I fully understood the impact of chemicals, I
wanted to work in this field to do what I can to
eliminate and minimize harmful exposures. I was
working with BPA, which is used in food packaging
and is still approved by the FDA. Food connected
with me because everybody eats; [it's] where I
thought I could make the most impact. We've been
telling people they are responsible for what they eat.
But it's the duty of industry and regulatory
decision-makers to make sure safe food is available
for all populations.
https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/food-technology-magazine/issues/2022/december/columns/11-packag ing-maricel-maffini-chemicals-of-conc... 3/13

15. • Claire Sand is a Global Packaging Leader with 35+ years of broad
experience in the food and packaging science spectrum in industry -
from basic research to marketing - and in academia - tenured
professor and director.
• Sand's mission is to enable a more sustainable food system with
science and value chain innovations that more sustainably increases
food shelf life and prevents food waste.
• She solves packaging and food industry challenges using a blend of
packaging and food science and value-chain expertise.
• Dr. Sand holds a PhD in Food Science and Nutrition from the
University of Minnesota and MS and BS in Packaging from Michigan
State University.
Questions?
Let’s Connect!
Call 617-807-5341 or email
claire@packagingtechnologyandresearch.com
www.PackagingTechnologyandResearch.com