Rick Karlin is reporting for the Times Union Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo Thu., Dec. 3, signed legislation to ban toxic PFAS compounds from food packaging. The compounds are commonly found in items ranging from pizza boxes to milk cartons and pastry bags, as well as wrappings for meat and fish. The measure was sponsored by Assembly Democrat Patricia Fahy of Albany, and Manhattan Democrat, state Sen. Brad Hoylman. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, is a dangerous and cancer-causing class of chemicals. They have drawn public scrutiny in recent years after the chemicals turned up in various municipal water supplies. The so-called forever chemicals come from manufacturing, such as the case in Hoosick Falls or from firefighting foam used in fire drills, in Cairo. They can remain in a person’s bloodstream for long periods of time. With the passage of the bill, New York joins Maine and Washington states in banning PFAS from food containers. The bill signing comes on the heels of Cuomo's approval of legislation to ban the incineration of firefighting foam that contains the chemical at the Norlite aggregate plant in Cohoes. Read the full story in the Times Union.