Most chemicals detected in food packaging materials are not listed for use

 What harmful substances are in food packaging? Most chemicals detected in food contact materials are not listed for use. Food packaging is important for today’s globalized food system, but food contact materials (FCMs) can also be a source of hazardous chemicals migrating into foodstuffs. Assessing the impacts of FCMs on human health requires a comprehensive identification of the chemicals they contain, the food contact chemicals (FCCs). Researchers at the University of Basel systematically compiled a“database on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals” (FCCmigex) using information from 1210 studies. They found that to date 2881 FCCs have been detected, in a total of six FCM groups (Plastics, Paper & Board, Metal, Multi-materials, Glass & Ceramic, and Other FCMs). 65% of these detected FCCs were previously not known to be used in FCMs. Conversely, of the more than 12’000 FCCs known to be used, only 1013 are included in the FCCmigex database. Plastic is the most studied FCM with 1975 FCCs detected. Their findings expand the universe of known FCCs to 14,153 chemicals. This knowledge will contribute to developing non-hazardous FCMs that lead to safer food and support a circular economy.

Birgit Geueke et al.; Systematic Evidence on migrating and extractable Food Contact Chemicals: Most Chemicals detected in Food Contact Materials are not listed for Use; Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (2022)



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