There are two clear trends in the food industry: the demand for convenience foods and the push for increased packaging sustainability.
While take-out meals require disposable food contact materials (FCM) the packaging industry is experimenting with sustainable alternative-to-plastic solutions.
But are these materials as safe as their replacement?
Although these FCM must comply with the framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, there is no specific regulation at the European level that is as comprehensive as the Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic. As a result, the chemical composition and the health risks of these disposable FCM applications remain largely unknown.
Further investigations need to be conducted. Preliminary targeted studies detected fluorinated substances in alternative single-use tableware and fast-food packaging. These (and others) substances can then find their way into the environment or human body. A 2019 Spanish investigation detected endocrine disruptors in the body of every participant studied.
However, disposable FCM’s contribution to the population's exposure to harmful chemicals is still unclear, and a risk assessment is necessary.
The 24-month SAFE-GREENPACK project aims to contribute to filling this gap. With a growing fast-food market, Spain will serve as a proof of concept for evaluating the food safety of alternatives to disposable plastics.
First, this FCM market will be mapped by a comprehensive market study. Next, analytical data on contaminants will be provided. Those will result from an optimised workflow based on untargeted screening, prioritisation of the results and quantification of relevant substances. High-level secondments will contribute to the quality of the results. Finally, a risk assessment will highlight priorities for safety policy.
The project’s interdisciplinary approach in the rapidly evolving field of FCM’s food safety will let the fellow learn from different fields and further develop his career.
