LABELS & TOXIC WARNING

LABELS & TOXIC WARNING

“A ‘highly toxic’ chemical in the glue on supermarket labels can seep through packaging and contaminate food”, The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Zaragoza in Spain. It was funded by the European Union and Gobierno de Aragón, Spain. The study was published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry.

This study looked at the chemicals in four types of adhesive, how they passed through different types of packaging, and whether the chemicals could be absorbed by a food-like material.

One of these chemicals was found to be potentially toxic and could be absorbed by food through a type of material called thick matt polypropylene. Limited data was given and it is unknown if other materials might be more or less absorbent.

The researchers estimate that the average daily consumption of this chemical through exposure to food labels is greater than safe levels. However, this chemical has no official recommended maximum daily allowance, but only an estimated theoretical advised maximum intake. Further work is needed to assess safe consumption limits.

This was preliminary research and has not provided a comprehensive analysis of whether there is a health risk from packaging and label adhesives. The Food Standards Agency said, "Our own research has found that although several chemical substances are present in adhesives, the potential for them to migrate into food is very low."

The researchers say that although there are regulations for plastics used in food packaging in the EU, adhesives are not regulated.The researchers obtained four water-based adhesives that are commonly used on sticky labels for the food industry from adhesive companies.
The researchers also investigated how much of the chemicals would be absorbed by an artificial food ‘simulant’, a material called tenax, to model how much of the chemical might be absorbed by food.

This was preliminary research and has not provided a comprehensive analysis of the variety of packaging and label adhesives used in the UK, nor whether they carry a health risk. More research is needed to establish this. The Food Standards Agency said, "Our own research has found that although several chemical substances are present in adhesives, the potential for them to migrate into food is very low."

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Written by Dr Martin Harris, Doctor and Mohel for Jewish Circumcision Clinic in London Bris Mila Brit Milah.
www.circumcisionlondon.co.uk

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Contact Dr Martin Harris