Packaging is critical to today's globalized food system, but materials in contact with food can be a source of dangerous chemicals that migrate into food. An international research has confirmed that the safest packaging for consumers' health is in glass and ceramics.
The primacy of glass
The research, published in the journal "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition", has identified around 3000 chemicals that can migrate from packaging to food, making human exposure to these substances highly likely.
More precisely, the study revealed that of the 2881 chemicals in contact with food detected, only 47 were identified in the glass packaging or ceramic; a result lower than 2%.
Worse outcomes for plastic and paper
In contrast, for plastic containers the percentage approaches 70%, with 1975 chemicals detected. While for paper and cardboard it slightly exceeds 30% (887).
As stated by Adeline Farrelly, secretary general of FEVE (Fédération Européenne du Verre d'Emballage), "the study shows that glass is the safest of packaging materials, as it contains practically no chemicals and therefore is the one that protects more human health ".
Towards deeper research
Another insight from the study is that only 35% of the food contact chemicals found were known. The remaining 65% were not registered on any regulatory or industry list to date.
There is therefore a significant knowledge gap to fill in food contact legislation, as Farrelly suggests. "The methodologies for evaluating the life cycle on packaging must take into account the chemicals, especially the dangerous ones, used in packaging materials in contact with food, which can also be released into the environment".
Sources: glass-international.com, tandfonline.com
