The dangers in food packaging: A safety investigation

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is in the process of reviewing the Food Standards code relating to chemical migration from packaging into food.

In Australia, it’s illegal to sell food packaging that will make food unsafe, but the code is currently unclear on the details of what levels certain chemicals become unsafe when used in packaging.

As explained in Food Magazine, the code specifies that any material that comes into contact with food, such as packaging, must not cause bodily harm. It does not specify how food packaging can be made or from which materials. The standard does include maximum levels from a handful of chemicals that are known to transfer into food, these include vinyl chloride, tin and acrylonitrile (a genotoxic carcinogen), but there are more that could be included.

Under the current code, it is the responsibility of the food business to ensure the packaging it uses will not contaminate food or cause harm in any other way. In other words, FSANZ does not test the packaging, instead it relies on the food producer to ensure it is safe.

In a paper released last year, FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said, “Food packaging has many benefits — it allows food to be transported, prevents microbial contamination and increases shelf life providing convenience for consumers. That said, FSANZ would like to learn more about how the migration of chemicals from packaging into food is currently being managed by industry, particularly smaller operators”.

In recent years certain plastics and other synthetic materials have come under fire for their potential to cause harm. The most notorious recent example is BPA, which was removed from all baby bottles in response to consumers fears of its potential to disrupt hormones.

In Europe, regulations include maximum limits of chemical migration from packaging into food, while in the US the focus is on the materials used in the packaging and their potential for harm.

For those of us who grew up on milk in glass bottles, lollies in tins and cereal straight from the cardboard box, the shift to plastic packaging has been both a blessing and a curse (so much easier, but so much waste!). Now, we’re left wondering if it could threaten our health.

Were you aware of the potential dangers of food packaging? Is this an issue that concerns you?