Food packaging in the cross-hairs of FSANZ

FSANZ has released a consultation paper seeking further information from the local packaging industry on the management of the migration of chemicals from packaging into food.

FSANZ chief executive officer, Steve McCutcheon 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.

“This paper is part of a broader proposal which will help us determine whether current safety measures are appropriate or if further measures are required to manage chemical migration from packaging into food,” he said.

“Currently, the law requires all food to be safe and suitable. Despite this, some stakeholders continue to have concerns about chemical migration from packaging into food so we want to be sure it is being managed appropriately.”

So far, he says, FSANZ's investigations into this issue have been reassuring. In 2010 the food safety regulator surveyed a range of chemicals associated with packaging materials. It analysed 65 foods and beverages packaged in glass, paper, plastic or cans for chemicals including phthalates, perfluorinated compounds, epoxidised soybean oil (ESBO), semicarbazide, acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride, with no detections of phthalates, perfluorinated compounds, semicarbazide, acrylonitrile or vinyl chloride in food samples

According to McCutcheon, although FSANZ's preliminary work with peak food industry and packaging bodies suggest that good practices are generally being implemented, it wants to dig deeper.

“To help us complete the picture, we are seeking further information, particularly from smaller to medium sized businesses, about the kinds of packaging they are using and measures they have in place to ensure safety,” he said.

Uncertainties, for instance, still surround regulation of substances used in printing inks, and there are knowledge gaps regarding the composition of recycled material used for food packaging, and FSANZ will continue to compile further information and data and better characterise the potential risks through building a chemical risk profile.

As part of the current project, FSANZ is also assessing data from phase 2 of the 24th Australian Total Diet Study. The phase 2 report will focus on food packaging chemicals including bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and printing inks.

FSANZ has also released a consultation paper for public comment, which provides an overview of potential public health risks, the packaging supply chain and current control measures.

FSANZ is seeking submissions by December 24 from smaller to medium sized businesses in particular about the kinds of packaging being used and measures in place to ensure safety.