reproduce here an article published in consumer on the issue of chemical contaminants in recycled plastics used for packaging food, which, in my opinion, should be prohibited because they can make a lot of things before food packaging.
The EU strengthens efforts to reduce the risk of recycling plastic containers that come into contact with food containing chemical contaminants
The use of recycled materials in the food industry is nothing new. Paper, cardboard and glass are recycled for use as food packaging. Although it can be transferred to food substances are largely impervious to contaminants and easy to clean with the temperatures used in the recycling process. Most vulnerable is the plastic, along with paper recycling process which requires specific measures to avoid the presence of chemical and microbiological contaminants.
* Author: By MARTA CHAVARRÍA
* Publication Date: April 14, 2008
containers for oils, mineral water, mayonnaise, sauces, vacuum packaging, grocery bags, milk and yoghurt pots for ... Many are the uses of plastic as food packaging, and recycled plastic. The reuse of this material in the food industry means taking into account many considerations, all aimed at reducing the risk of contamination that may spoil the product. One risk is that plastics are a suitable material so that migration takes place, ie no transfer of non-polymeric components from the plastic into the food it contains.
protection and less pollution
The recycling process is fundamental to eliminate possible contaminants in the plastic material
To avoid situations like this, the European Union has to strengthen surveillance and control measures with the EC regulation 282/2008, which also aims to harmonize the rules in Member States. In most European countries have not been set, for example, specific rules on the use of monomers and other materials that make recycled plastic. Hence the need to regulate aspects together until now remained unresolved.
In this regard, and to ensure the same level of safety of recycled plastic materials, provides that only monomers are added and additives (substances of small size, together with polymers, plastics are) authorized in quantities determined to prevent migration to plastic limits are higher than deemed safe. By their physicochemical properties, their effectiveness is required for polyolefins is 100%. And is that one of the sources of contamination can be, precisely, the previous use has been made of container.
Hence the importance of recycling, mechanical treatment, one of the strengths of the legislation, which calls for very careful in the process in which waste is shredded into small pieces and cleaned. This step is of utmost importance to ensure eliminating any risk of contamination, and migration that occur are lower than those found in trials of stimulation. Under supervision
One of the conditions required by the legislation requires industry to specify, through labeling that the packaging contains recycled plastics, and has a declaration of conformity. Who ensures that it meets all the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, in the acronym), which will be necessary to evaluate the safety of the recycling process. It will also be in charge of making an assessment of risk management on whether or not to approve the recycling process. A PECULIAR EQUIPMENT
Reuse plastic as food packaging must take into account special considerations. On the one hand, the bottles of this material are more likely than glass to absorb pollutants that may affect the food. According to the report 'Points to Consider for the use of recycled plastics in food packaging: Chemistry Considerations ", prepared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), analytical protocols should be allowed to demonstrate that contaminant levels are low. In this sense, it is necessary to establish an acceptable level of dietary exposure to chemical contaminants.
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