Rome: The growing use of recycled plastic in food packaging and other food contact materials presents notable environmental benefits but also raises significant chemical safety concerns, emphasizing the necessity for discussions on globally harmonized standards, as per a new report by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
According to Emirates News Agency, the report, titled "Food Safety Implications of Recycled Plastics and Alternative Food Contact Materials," was published on Wednesday. It arrives amidst an increase in the global food packaging market, which is estimated to be valued at $505.27 billion in 2024 and projected to grow to $815.51 billion by 2030. The demand for food packaging is being driven by changing consumption patterns and lifestyle shifts, evident in the popularity of snacks, ready-made meals, fast food, confectionery, and bottled beverages.
Food contact materials (FCMs) are crucial in reducing food loss and waste as they extend shelf life and maintain food quality. This, in turn, lowers production costs, enhances the efficiency of agrifood systems, supports food security and nutrition, and promotes environmental sustainability. However, the extensive use of plastic-based FCMs, which have long environmental half-lives, is exacerbating the global plastic waste crisis, leading to a gradual transition toward the use of recycled plastics.
Currently, less than 10% of plastic waste generated globally has been recycled, but this percentage is expected to rise for sustainability reasons, which brings critical food chemical safety issues to the forefront. The report stresses that while pursuing environmental goals, health concerns arising from potential chemical contamination and migration from FCMs into food must also be addressed.
Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Agrifood Systems and Food Safety Division at FAO, stated, "We want to recycle more plastic, but we also want to make sure that by solving one problem we don't create new problems. Food safety must be a central consideration in the transition towards more sustainable agrifood systems and food consumption patterns."
The evaluation of food safety issues is essential to enable recycled and alternative FCMs to reach their full potential, protecting consumer health and ensuring fair trade. One area of concern is the possible introduction of new hazards from feedstock sources, such as pesticides, natural toxins, or allergens, in bio-based FCMs derived from natural and renewable resources like corn, sugarcane, and cassava. Additional concerns include the use of new intentionally added substances, such as nanomaterials, which enhance material performance or enable active packaging functions.
The report advocates for effective cleaning and removal of chemicals during recycling processes specifically designed for FCMs. Suitable waste stream control and sorting systems can segregate food-use plastic packaging materials before recycling, based on synthetic polymer-specific Resin Identification Codes. Addressing public concerns about exposure to micro- and nanoplastics in food and beverages necessitates validated analytical methods for their detection and identification.