Editor’s Comment: Because of an ongoing lawsuit led by industry a California superior court ruled that California must delist bisphenol a (BPA) from its Proposition 65 until the lawsuit is resolved. Proposition 65 contains substances known to cause reproductive toxicity and cancer.
Proposition 65
CHEMICAL DELISTED EFFECTIVE APRIL 19, 2013 AS KNOWN TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO CAUSE REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY: BISPHENOL A (BPA)
[04/19/13]Effective April 19, 2013, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is removing bisphenol A (BPA) (CAS No. 80-05-7) from the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity for purposes of Proposition 65.1 The chemical was added to the list on April 11, 2013based on reproductive endpoints (developmental toxicity).
Editor’s Comment: BfR and CRD, two important health protecting institutions within Europe suggest harmonized criteria for the assessment of endocrine disruptors. Read more in BfR’s announcment below.
Appeal for harmonized scientific criteria for identification and assessment of endocrine disruptors
08/2013, 21.03.2013
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the British Chemicals Regulation Directorate (CRD) suggest a concept for human health risk assessment of endocrine disruptors
Editor’s Comment: Active substances like iron, sodium chloride, water, silica gel, activated carbon, monosodium glutamate and others have been evaluated by the European Food Safety Agency EFSA in form of a scientific opinion. Please check out the official texts as published under the link below at headline past activities / completed work.
Food contact materials applications
EFSA provides scientific advice on the safety evaluation of substances used in food contact materials (FCM) including active and intelligent materials and of the recycling processes for recycled plastics used in FCM.
Editor’s comment: Please regard this scientific study concerning the migration of nanosilver from the packaging into chicken meat. Migration levels were found up to a level of 8,85 mg/kg food. There is no migration limit specified for silver or silver in its nanoform yet, but research is already ongoing. The the full study can be purchased at the link below. Thanks to the authors for their courtesy of allowing us to print the abstract below.
Migration and exposure assessment of silver from a PVC nanocomposite
Authors: M. Cushena, J. Kerryb, M. Morrisc, M. Cruz-Romerob, E. Cumminsa,
Editor’s Comment: Please consider this report by the NGO Food Packaging Forum on the first obligation to report on the use of nano materials to a national authority body within the EU.
Editor’s comment: Please regard the latest reports below by FoodProductionDaily. They deal with antimicrobial packaging and endocrine disrupting substances.
Migration levels of antimicrobial packaging material found to be safe
The migration properties of an LAE–based antimicrobial food packaging material have been shown to be safe, according to research.
European Parliament backs stronger EDC regulation
The European Parliament has backed a proposal to list endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as “substances of very high concern” under the REACH legislation.
The European Food Safety Authority EFSA has published an interesting website explaining their key considerations and their working principles on short videos. See some links with relation to packaging below. Please scroll down on the linked site to find the specific video. Enjoy.
CHEMICALS IN FOOD: ESTABLISHING SAFE LEVELS
HOW TO IDENTIFY EMERGING RISKS
HOW DO WE COMMUNICATE RISK IN THE FOOD CHAIN?
APPLICATIONS HELPDESK – EFSA’S FRONT OFFICE AND SUPPORT DESK FOR REGULATED PRODUCTS
DATA COLLECTION AND EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
Editor’s Comment: Please consider this interesting report by FoodProductionDaily.com. Instead of the few substances in public discussion today there is a suspect that among 800 chemicals might have endocrine effects.
More research is needed on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to assess potential effects on health, according to a UN report. Please read more on:
http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/Quality-Safety/More-research-needed-on-EDCs-says-UN-report
Editor’s Comment: Fears about food contact material anthraquinone’s carcinogenic properties have prompted Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) to drop it from its recommended list for food packaging substances. Read the abstract of the institute’s official publication below.
BfR removes anthraquinone from its list of recommendations for food packaging
BfR opinion No. 005/2013, 12 February 2013
The substance anthraquinone is used in the production of paper and cardboard, including
food packaging. Anthraquinone contained in the packaging can contaminate food. The
Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) took the publication of an expert opinion of the
European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) published in 2012 as an opportunity to reassess the
use of anthraquinone in the manufacture of paper intended for food contact.
Editor’s Comment: Here’s an issue striking the German food packaging market around last year’s christmas time. Please find below the Q+A’s of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) concerning mineral oils from packaging in foodstuff.
Questions and answers on mineral oils contained in chocolate from advent calendars and other foods
BfR FAQ, 30 November 2012