Danger of cancer Toxins in paper plates

Stricter regulation announced: Toxic substances in paper plates & paper napkins

08/11/2014

Paper plates, paper napkins and colorful food packaging often contain harmful substances. Some of them can even cause cancer. Federal Nutrition Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) wants to enforce a stricter regulation for printing inks.

Health-endangering substances in food packaging
According to a report by the news agency AFP, paper napkins, paper plates or colorful food packaging, according to official sources, often contain harmful substances. Andreas Luch from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) told the „South German newspaper“ from Monday, that an investigation of the colors with which the products are printed, resulted in that „Consumers should as little as possible come into contact with such substances.“ According to the report, the German Federal Nutrition Minister Christian Schmidt (CSU) wants to enforce a stricter regulation for printing inks.

Carcinogenic and mutagenic properties
The „Süddeutsche“ further reported that printing inks on food packaging and paper napkins could contain primary aromatic amines, which in turn, according to BfR, have carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. It is said that BfR has investigated the risks posed by printing inks at the request of some federal states. According to the newspaper, the BfR also concluded that the current limit for carcinogenic primary aromatic amines should be revised.

Foods often contain printing ink ingredients
According to the report, a paper from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food states that food products often contain components of printing inks and in quantities, „exceed the health-acceptable thresholds“. Furthermore, several other chemicals have been detected from printing inks - with „unknown toxicological potential“. Loud „SZ“ the Federal Nutrition Minister now plans to the EU Commission „briefly“ to submit a regulation for printing inks. This is to regulate much stricter which chemical substances may be contained in paints, which are printed napkins or packaging, which come into contact with food.

No health hazard from packaging and napkins
„This does not necessarily mean that things will be less colorful in the future“, said Minister Schmidt to the „Sueddeutsche“. The fact that packaging and napkins pose no health risk, but more important than the design. However, food packaging threatens other dangers. As reported last month, paper cups with plastic lids selling coffee to go may also contain hazardous substances such as softeners or flame retardants. Opposite the online edition of the newspaper „The world“ said the environmental scientist Jane Muncke, who heads a foundation for food safety in Zurich, that the perfluorinated polymers in the coating of the cardboard are particularly questionable. This assessment is also underpinned by a study by the Federal Environmental Agency in 2013. Accordingly, perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals are associated with the development of certain diseases. (Ad)