Brussels Update
EU test models developed to gauge food/plastics migration
EUROPEAN Union (EU) researchers have developed new computer test models for assessing the likely migration of plastics ingredients from packaging into foodstuffs, which they say will save manufacturers from underestimating contamination, risking expensive recalls. The EU “Foodmigrosure” project, led by Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging (IVV), has developed mathematical models based on extensive tests using various plastics and foodstuffs: one shows how plastics ingredients move about in plastic; another shows how these substances migrate from plastic packaging material into food at the contact surface; and a third model describes how the migrants disperse in the food itself. www.foodmigrosure.com/_
EFSA declares bisphenol A “safe” in food packaging
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has declared safe using plastics ingredient bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging, following widespread concern about its effect on reproduction and hormones. EFSA scientists have re-evaluated BPA after studies showed significant differences between humans and rodents in exposure effects, undermining previous tests on mice. BPA helps produce polycarbonate for infant feeding bottles, tableware, microwave ovenware, storage containers and milk bottles; and epoxy-phenolic resins for foodcan internal protective linings and metal lid coatings for glass jars and bottles. EFSA set a permanent “tolerable daily intake” (TDI) level of 0.05 milligram/kg body weight/day, concluding that contamination from BPA contaminated food is “well below the new TDI”.