Safer food packaging
Hiding in plain sight
More than 10,000 chemicals are permitted for use in food – about half as direct additives and the rest in packaging or other food contact materials such as handling and processing equipment.
Muncke, et al. Scientific Challenges in the Risk Assessment of Food Contact Materials, Environmental Health Perspectives. 2017.
From package to food
Unfortunately, the chemicals directly added to final packaging can migrate into food. Chemical migration can also occur from bulk intermediate packaging used during food processing and handling.
Some of these chemicals have been linked to health impacts such as endocrine disruption and developmental toxicity.
Therefore, when meeting consumer demand for safer food, companies need to address not only the safety of direct food additives but also the safety of chemicals in food packaging. EDF provides guidance on how to start.