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cereal box health warning after recycled cardboard study
by：Top-In
2020-08-07
Jordans -
Its brand includes country crispy oats
Kellogg and Weetabix say they are taking steps to reduce risks to human health.
When Swiss researchers found that mineral oil in the printed ink of recycled newspapers in cardboard could enter the food, the alarm was triggered --
Even by protecting the inner plastic bag.
Pasta and rice brands packaged in recycled cardboard may also pose a risk.
Dr. Koni Grob of the food safety laboratory in Zurich said that toxicologists linked these oils to visceral inflammation and even cancer, although he stressed that there were only a small amount of chemicals in the individual diet.
The BBC reports that Jordans, a grain company, has stopped using recycled cardboard while other manufacturers are reducing the amount of mineral oil in their packaging.
Q & A: How \"mineral oil\" in recycled paper entered the food box: Swiss researchers analyzed 119 products purchased from German supermarkets last year and found that most of them contained higher than agreed levels
Only those with thicker and more expensive inner lining bags seem to be able to escape pollution, which increases the product time on the shelves.
\"About 30 119 of products are mineral-free, almost all because of internal barriers,\" Dr. Grob said . \".
\"For others, they are all over the limit, up to 10 times.
\"We calculated that they could be more than 50 times on average before their shelf life ends, and many would be more than a few hundred times.
The study of mice highlighted the risk of vegetable oil to health, Dr. Grob said, adding: \"Toxicologists talk about two effects.
One is chronic inflammation of various internal organs and the other is cancer.
But he added: \"a meal has no real impact on health.
This is a long-term problem. term exposure.
The Swiss food safety department concluded that consumers with a balanced diet need not worry.
In a statement, Jordan told the BBC that it had stopped using recycling cards: \"As an environmental protection
Jordan reluctantly made the decision out of business consciousness, but felt it was wise.
At the same time, Kellogg said: \"We are working with suppliers to develop new packaging, which allows us to fulfill our environmental commitments but will also contain much lower mineral oil.
We are also looking for alternative lining for our packaging.
Weetabix told the BBC: \"Weetabix is actively working with packaging suppliers to consider alternative recycled packaging that does not contain recycled newspapers. Our data . . .
It does indicate that none of our products pose a risk to consumer health.
Barbara Galani, representing the Food and Beverage Federation of British food companies, said the Swiss study was a \"good starting point for further investigation \", but it is not enough in itself to justify stopping the use of recycling cards.
\"Abandoning the use of recycling boards in food packaging will be a very drastic measure that needs to be taken only if the problem is serious enough,\" she said . \".
\"There are methods-which we are working on-that can minimize migration and choose cardboard with a lower content of vegetable oil.
The UK food safety agency is investigating the presence of mineral oil in food packaging.
Terry donojo, head of the chemical safety department at the FSA, said: \"If there is any evidence in our study-we will conduct a risk assessment-we will take immediate action to protect the public.
Dr. Grob warned consumers not to panic in the face of the study.
He added that from an environmental point of view, the cost of wholesale use of fresh fibers in packaging is too high.
Instead, manufacturers should explore the introduction of packaging, which can act as a barrier to mineral oil, or choose to deposit the barrier directly on cardboard packaging, he said.
He said that studies have shown that materials such as paper have no protective effect, and packaging such as polyethylene and polypropylene have no effect.
Aluminum foil is effective, he added.
\"On average, our bodies already contain about a gram of mineral oil --
So far, this is the biggest pollutant in our body.
\"It\'s 10 grams for some people and it\'s a high value,\" he said . \".
\"It is clear that we have accumulated minerals all our lives and that what babies get through breast milk can last a lifetime.
\"Therefore, there is no real effect in a month or less, so there is no emergency, and consumers should not make any quick changes, and we have to think about it,\" he said . \".
\"The simple idea of changing to fresh fiber is not a viable solution because it will cost too many trees.
We need better solutions like setting up special barriers.
A spokesperson for Kellogg said: \"While experts have told us that we do not have direct health problems, we are looking at our packaging.
\"We are working with our suppliers to develop new packaging, which allows us to fulfill our environmental commitments but will also contain much lower mineral oil.
We are also looking for alternative lining for our bag.
\"Although there are strict regulations in terms of food packaging, the British government does not currently have instructions on vegetable oil.
\"We will follow immediately once we have any such guidance.
He added that switching to Virgin boards would not solve the problem of migrating mineral oil from other recycled packages.
\"Our understanding is (
Switch to Virgin board)
\"In the negative sense, it will have a significant impact on the environment, but it still can\'t solve the problem, so we are obviously looking for alternatives,\" he said . \".
Bureau of Food Standards (FSA)
The spokesman said: \"The FSA does not know that there is any conclusive evidence that there is a food safety risk related to mineral oil in the recycled food packaging.
\"This study is interesting, but because the data is incomplete, the results do not prove that vegetable oil in food packaging represents food safety risks.
\"The UK Food Safety Authority is currently collecting information about the extent of mineral oil presence in food packaging in the UK market.
\"The agency also pays special attention to recycled materials to ensure that the manufacturing process successfully removes substances that may cause food safety problems from finished packaging.
\"It is the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure that the food they produce is safe, and some manufacturers choose to review their use of recycled packaging.
\"The agency continues to review the evidence in this area and will take action to protect consumers if the evidence suggests it is necessary to do so.
Gallani, MS of the Food and Beverage Federation, said: \"We are aware that recent studies have shown that mineral hydrocarbons may exist in recycled cardboard used in food packaging.
\"We know that the information currently available is limited and we are working with FSA, food manufacturers, retailers and the packaging supply chain to gather more information.
\"The FSA has indicated that there is no need for immediate action.
It is investigating food packaging materials including recycled cardboard and will be reported in the summer.
\"At the same time, FDF revised the food manufacturer\'s guide for recycling cartons in food packaging.
Its brand includes country crispy oats
Kellogg and Weetabix say they are taking steps to reduce risks to human health.
When Swiss researchers found that mineral oil in the printed ink of recycled newspapers in cardboard could enter the food, the alarm was triggered --
Even by protecting the inner plastic bag.
Pasta and rice brands packaged in recycled cardboard may also pose a risk.
Dr. Koni Grob of the food safety laboratory in Zurich said that toxicologists linked these oils to visceral inflammation and even cancer, although he stressed that there were only a small amount of chemicals in the individual diet.
The BBC reports that Jordans, a grain company, has stopped using recycled cardboard while other manufacturers are reducing the amount of mineral oil in their packaging.
Q & A: How \"mineral oil\" in recycled paper entered the food box: Swiss researchers analyzed 119 products purchased from German supermarkets last year and found that most of them contained higher than agreed levels
Only those with thicker and more expensive inner lining bags seem to be able to escape pollution, which increases the product time on the shelves.
\"About 30 119 of products are mineral-free, almost all because of internal barriers,\" Dr. Grob said . \".
\"For others, they are all over the limit, up to 10 times.
\"We calculated that they could be more than 50 times on average before their shelf life ends, and many would be more than a few hundred times.
The study of mice highlighted the risk of vegetable oil to health, Dr. Grob said, adding: \"Toxicologists talk about two effects.
One is chronic inflammation of various internal organs and the other is cancer.
But he added: \"a meal has no real impact on health.
This is a long-term problem. term exposure.
The Swiss food safety department concluded that consumers with a balanced diet need not worry.
In a statement, Jordan told the BBC that it had stopped using recycling cards: \"As an environmental protection
Jordan reluctantly made the decision out of business consciousness, but felt it was wise.
At the same time, Kellogg said: \"We are working with suppliers to develop new packaging, which allows us to fulfill our environmental commitments but will also contain much lower mineral oil.
We are also looking for alternative lining for our packaging.
Weetabix told the BBC: \"Weetabix is actively working with packaging suppliers to consider alternative recycled packaging that does not contain recycled newspapers. Our data . . .
It does indicate that none of our products pose a risk to consumer health.
Barbara Galani, representing the Food and Beverage Federation of British food companies, said the Swiss study was a \"good starting point for further investigation \", but it is not enough in itself to justify stopping the use of recycling cards.
\"Abandoning the use of recycling boards in food packaging will be a very drastic measure that needs to be taken only if the problem is serious enough,\" she said . \".
\"There are methods-which we are working on-that can minimize migration and choose cardboard with a lower content of vegetable oil.
The UK food safety agency is investigating the presence of mineral oil in food packaging.
Terry donojo, head of the chemical safety department at the FSA, said: \"If there is any evidence in our study-we will conduct a risk assessment-we will take immediate action to protect the public.
Dr. Grob warned consumers not to panic in the face of the study.
He added that from an environmental point of view, the cost of wholesale use of fresh fibers in packaging is too high.
Instead, manufacturers should explore the introduction of packaging, which can act as a barrier to mineral oil, or choose to deposit the barrier directly on cardboard packaging, he said.
He said that studies have shown that materials such as paper have no protective effect, and packaging such as polyethylene and polypropylene have no effect.
Aluminum foil is effective, he added.
\"On average, our bodies already contain about a gram of mineral oil --
So far, this is the biggest pollutant in our body.
\"It\'s 10 grams for some people and it\'s a high value,\" he said . \".
\"It is clear that we have accumulated minerals all our lives and that what babies get through breast milk can last a lifetime.
\"Therefore, there is no real effect in a month or less, so there is no emergency, and consumers should not make any quick changes, and we have to think about it,\" he said . \".
\"The simple idea of changing to fresh fiber is not a viable solution because it will cost too many trees.
We need better solutions like setting up special barriers.
A spokesperson for Kellogg said: \"While experts have told us that we do not have direct health problems, we are looking at our packaging.
\"We are working with our suppliers to develop new packaging, which allows us to fulfill our environmental commitments but will also contain much lower mineral oil.
We are also looking for alternative lining for our bag.
\"Although there are strict regulations in terms of food packaging, the British government does not currently have instructions on vegetable oil.
\"We will follow immediately once we have any such guidance.
He added that switching to Virgin boards would not solve the problem of migrating mineral oil from other recycled packages.
\"Our understanding is (
Switch to Virgin board)
\"In the negative sense, it will have a significant impact on the environment, but it still can\'t solve the problem, so we are obviously looking for alternatives,\" he said . \".
Bureau of Food Standards (FSA)
The spokesman said: \"The FSA does not know that there is any conclusive evidence that there is a food safety risk related to mineral oil in the recycled food packaging.
\"This study is interesting, but because the data is incomplete, the results do not prove that vegetable oil in food packaging represents food safety risks.
\"The UK Food Safety Authority is currently collecting information about the extent of mineral oil presence in food packaging in the UK market.
\"The agency also pays special attention to recycled materials to ensure that the manufacturing process successfully removes substances that may cause food safety problems from finished packaging.
\"It is the responsibility of manufacturers to ensure that the food they produce is safe, and some manufacturers choose to review their use of recycled packaging.
\"The agency continues to review the evidence in this area and will take action to protect consumers if the evidence suggests it is necessary to do so.
Gallani, MS of the Food and Beverage Federation, said: \"We are aware that recent studies have shown that mineral hydrocarbons may exist in recycled cardboard used in food packaging.
\"We know that the information currently available is limited and we are working with FSA, food manufacturers, retailers and the packaging supply chain to gather more information.
\"The FSA has indicated that there is no need for immediate action.
It is investigating food packaging materials including recycled cardboard and will be reported in the summer.
\"At the same time, FDF revised the food manufacturer\'s guide for recycling cartons in food packaging.
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