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Editor’s comment: Although focused on the U.S. this article reveals a whole spectrum of issues accumulated over the years. Astonishing is the statement that around 50 compounds with known or suspected endocrine-disrupting activity have been approved as food-contact materials. Regard the hint concerning a new book on plastic issues on the bottom the article.

Editor’s comment: In this issue big retailers are involved directly. Although not a packaging problem in the first place it could easily have influence on packaging converters as well. It is obvious that the same mentioned substances are contained in many packaging materials.

In Germany, Greenpeace claimed that its own survey of shop receipts had confirmed the presence of Bisphenol A (BPA), and although some retailers had switched to Bisphenol S (BPS), the NGO claimed that this was probably “just as unhealthy”. The NGO claimed that it had found BPA in receipts from Edeka, Galeria Kaufhof and Deutsche Post, and BPS in receipts from Aldi Nord, Kaiser’s, REWE-ticket vending machines and the Deutsche Bahn, while only Lidl receipts were free from both. Greenpeace argued that as BPA/BPS is more concentrated and less bounded in paper than in plastics, its potential harm to consumers could be greater.

Editor’s Comment: Mineral oils mainly from carton board in packed foodstuff were a public issue some months ago leading to the introduction of a new Regulation in Germany. In the article below Smithers Pira’s well known specialist warns against overreaction since there still is no clear proof of toxic effects concerning these substances.

Nick Kernoghan Food Contact Regulatory Expert at Smithers Pira, talks to Packaging and Converting Intelligence Magazine’s Philip Kleinfield about potentially harmful mineral oils entering food products, the possible threat to consumers and the dangers of a knee-jerk response.

Editor’s comment: PET is one of the most commonly used plastics in food packaging. Following latest concerns about bisphenol A, phtalates and the like, what specific risks do beverage bottles or other packaging from PET bear? ELIPSO, the French plastic and FLexible Packaging Association, has some answers.

What is PET?

A plastic made from raw materials derived from raw petroleum, is composed of an

alcohol, mono-ethylene glycol (MEG) and terephthalic acid. Its chemical name is

Polyethylene Perephthalate or PET.

Does pet contain Bisphenol A (BpA)?

NO. BPA has no link with PET and does not enter into the manufacture of PET

Editor’s Comment: Studies on the presence of hormon mimics in the human body were presented on a recent conference in Germany. The detected substances were found as coming from plasticisers and other substances contained in plastics. Learn more from the following article by Martina Lenzen-Schulte (accentuation by editor).

Editor’s comment: In contradiction to activities in France and Belgium FDA decided on March 30th not to ban BPA, but instead gather additional data on health effects of this widely used the substance. One argument for the decision was the intention to prevent that the substance will be replaced against something less well evaluated and potentially more dangerous.

Bisphenol A or BPA has been found to be an estrogen mimic, reports the Los Angeles Times. Scientists obviously know that it is metabolized quickly and that it has been shown to have negative effects in mice, including developmental and reproductive abnormalities, precancerous changes in the prostate and breasts, and other health problems. In epidemiological studies, researchers have reported correlations between BPA levels in people and higher risk of ailments including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver problems.

Editor’s Comment: IFS (International Featured Standards) has obviously got the support of the US Packaging Association (PAC) to further establish its standards in the packaging business. According to an announcment published on IFS’s website all IFS standards shall be made available for free from early 2012 on. Please regard the note by foodproductiondaily below.

Editor’s Comment: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published an example  list of substances of very high concern (SVHC) as contained in the Candidate List. Although the data seems not to be very specific and representative it is the first time that the agency issues this small and incomplete list. Read more below.

Data on Candidate List substances in articles

This data provides examples of articles containing Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) that are included in the Candidate List, which are available for consumer use on the EU market. The data is based both on the notifications that companies have submitted to ECHA as well as on the information contained in the registration dossiers.

Editor’s Comment: Please regard this interesting roundup issued by PIRA about current open issues in packaging safety. Paramount seems to be that real exposure of babies to migration from food packaging might be significantly higher than assumed in the current EU legislation.

Efsa weighs options for exposure scenarios

17 February 2012

Later in 2012, the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) will announce a significant revision of the guidelines for submitting petitions for food contact materials.

Exposure of infants to food contact material can be 10 times higher than the conservative assumptions used in the EU to assess chemical migrants from plastic packaging.

Editor’s Comment: Switzerland introduced a positive list in 2010 mentioning all substances allowed in the manufacturing of printing inks for food contact packaging. Many packaging converters now ask for details about the legal situation of these materials within EU Member States. The European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA) recently revised its document covering frequently asked questions about this subject. Please consider the document below.

Frequently Asked Questions

ON THE LEGAL STATUS OF PRINTING INKS, COATINGS AND VARNISHES FOR THE NON FOOD CONTACT SURFACE OF FOOD PACKAGING (FOOD PACKAGING INKS)