Working Party on Chemical Contaminants from Food Contact Materials and Articles: 38th meeting minutes

Dr D Watson (Chairman) Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Chemical Safety and Toxicology Division (CST)

Dr K Barnes (Secretariat) FSA, CST

Mr R Sinclair (Secretariat) FSA, CST

Dr P Willetts (Secretariat) FSA, CST

Mr E Potter (Secretariat) FSA, CST

Mr N Ball FSA, CST

Mr N Barnwell Paper Federation of Great Britain

Mr B Cass Linpac Plastics

Dr N Gault Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland

Mr R Parry Flexible Packaging Association

Mrs A Townshend National Consumer Federation

Mr R Whitaker Crown Corporate Technologies

1. Chairman's introduction

1.1 The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting. This was the first meeting attended by Mr Nicholas Ball who had replaced Dr Joe Shavila, following his move to a new position in the Agency.

1.2 The Chairman informed members that the papers and agreed minutes from this meeting would be published on the Agency’s website in due course.

2. Apologies for absence

2.1 Apologies for absence had been received from Mr Peter Grayhurst, Mr John Horwood, Mr Max Hunt, Dr Laurence Castle, Mr George Hayward, Mr John Hewitt Mr Kevin Rees and Mr E Braxton Reynolds.

3. Minutes of the previous meeting (WPFCM/MIN/37)

3.1 The minutes of the 37th meeting were agreed by members and signed by the Chairman as a true record of the meeting. These minutes had been included in the review document published earlier in the year.

4. Matters arising from minutes of the previous meeting

4.1 Further to item 4.1 of WPFCM/MIN/37 the Chairman informed members that proposals for new scientific work on food contact materials had been included in the most recent Agency Research Requirements Document, published in mid-September 2002. These proposals were summarised in Annex II of paper WPFCM/141. The Chairman added that the submission of bids was expected soon.

4.2 Further to item 5.2 of WPFCM/MIN/37, the Chairman informed members that Dr Ramsay presented the findings of his research to develop a test for set-off from printing inks, at a meeting on 13 June. Stakeholders, including industry, attended the meeting, which would assist in taking this methodology forward.

4.3 Further to item 5.3 of WPFCM/MIN/37, the Chairman confirmed that the latest in a series of surveys on chemical migration from paper and board had been published in July 2002. This Food Surveillance Information Sheet, entitled ‘Paper and board packaging: Not likely to be a source of Acrylamide in Food’, was included as a paper for information (WPFCM/142). The Chairman asked members whether they had detected any media interest on this survey, following its publication. Nigel Barnwell noted a complete absence of reaction.

5. Future FSA-funded research on food contact materials (WPFCM/141).

5.1 The Chairman drew members’ attention to Annex IV of WPFCM/141, on the strategic outlook of areas for new projects.

5.2 The Chairman asked members to consider Annex III of WPFCM/141, on proposals for projects for possible commissioning in Financial Year 2004. He explained to members that the purpose of this exercise was to establish which areas of interest may warrant future research. He asked Dr Barnes to present the areas of possible interest for new projects outlined in Annex III of the paper, to members. The Chairman noted that this annex included recommendations for future work identified in a recently-reported research project on product/packaging combinations used for dietary staples (project A04006).

5.3 Dr Barnes confirmed publication of the dietary staples project and referred members to the summary of recommendations from that work. Firstly, on cans and can coatings, she asked members whether they considered enough work was being done. She reminded members of the current Agency-funded project entitled ‘The effects of storage, temperature, damage and cooking on the migration of bisphenol A (BPA) from can coatings’. Mr Whitaker responded that work so far adequately covered this area, but that the findings of the current project should be considered, on its publication, to identify areas of further potential interest.

5.4 Dr Barnes drew members’ attention to a recommendation in the published report, for additional work on PVC cling films. She noted the two Agency-funded projects entitled ‘Domestic use, reuse and misuse of packaging in contact with food’ and ‘Survey of the migration of monomers used in plastic food contact materials and articles, to ensure that SMLs are not being exceeded’. She pointed out that a lot of work had been done on cling film and asked members whether they felt that there was a need for further work or whether it was a case of further informing consumers. Mr Cass suggested that it is the responsibility of the manufacturer to educate the end user. He added that it can be difficult, however, to encourage this from companies supplying imported brands. Mr Whitaker added that the same difficulty arose at outlets such as market stalls. The Chairman commented that considerations of whether consumers were always given appropriate advice on the use of cling films was a matter of policy for the Agency.

5.5 In relation to a recommendation for further investigations on laminates, including work on tin stabilisers and aromatic amines, Dr Barnes asked members if they were aware of particular needs in this area. She referred to work already in progress on flexible laminates, in two Agency-funded projects: ‘Investigation into the applications of food contact laminated materials; examination of migration potential and recommendations for safe use’ and ‘Development of multi-methods for determining the migration of additives included in the proposed 6th amendment of Directive 90/128/EEC’. The breakdown of isocyanates to give aromatic amines was being addressed in the first of these projects. The other project includes work on organotin stabilisers. She asked members whether more work was therefore needed on laminates. Mr Parry believed that polyester laminates are less likely to create potential problems than amide laminates. He suggested that amide laminates may be a source of aromatic amines, if the laminates were released onto the market prior to adequate curing. Mr Parry added that laminates need to be left for a long time in order for the adhesives to cure effectively. Polyamines were not likely to be a source of aromatic amines. In relation to ‘boil-in-the-bag’ laminates, aromatic amines may also be released from these materials if they are heated at 120¿C, and with inappropriate use of adhesives. He added that nylon laminates, that might be present in ‘boil-in-the-bag’ packaging, could also be a source of potential migration. Dr Barnes noted that nylon-6 was included in a project surveying the migration of monomers used in producing plastic food contact materials. Mr Cass asked whether further information might be provided by the adhesives research work proposed for 2003. The Chairman recognised a clear question of need and agreed that the adhesives project, if funded, may address some of these questions.

5.6 There was also a recommendation in the report on dietary staples research for additional studies on recycled board. Dr Barnes informed members of Agency-funded work on recycled board; a published report ‘Investigation of the migration of inorganic contaminants into dry food from packaging made from recycled paper and board’ and ongoing work on ‘Migration from recycled paper and board to dry foods’ and on ‘Determination of the potential for transfer from secondary packaging to foods and development of guidelines to reduce transfer to levels of no concern’. Stage 2 of the latter project was underway. Dr Barnes asked the meeting whether in view of these on-going projects, enough work was now being done in this area. Mr Barnwell suggested waiting until more results are made available from current work, which he noted was mostly on dry foodstuffs. He added that industry is currently looking into the potential for migration from recycled board, in particular with regard to ‘fast food’. Mr Whitaker asked to what extent recycled paper is used in kitchen towels. Dr Barnes responded that it can be up to 100%. Mr Barnwell noted that kitchen towel had not been classified as a food contact material by the Council of Europe.

5.7 The report on dietary staples research also recommended further work on PVC jar/bottle seals. Dr Barnes explained to the meeting that migration of epoxidised soya bean oil (ESBO) from plasticised lid gaskets into baby food was surveyed by JFSSG in 1999 and that a further survey may be undertaken by the FSA, following action by industry to reduce migration. Mr Whitaker commented that sealing compounds are not used to make up all the inside of a lid and that a figure of 0.11 cm2 per gram for the food contact surface area to product ratio is unusually high and this needs revising. Dr Barnes agreed to investigate this. ACTION: DR BARNES. Mr Whitaker added that alternatives to ESBO are currently being used which are food-grade materials. The Chairman stated that due to the long shelf life of many baby foods changes may only occur over a long period of time. The situation was being monitored. The Chairman asked members whether more work was required in this area. Mr Whitaker responded that chlorohydrins and ESBO are being looked at by the European Commission and that nothing else of concern should migrate from these seals. The Chairman thanked Mr Whitaker for this and noted the need to be vigilant over chemical migration into baby foods.

5.8 Another area identified for consideration was high density polyethylene bottles with printed, PVC shrink sleeves. Dr Barnes asked for members’ views on potential migration from printing inks on shrink sleeves. There appeared to be an information gap in this area. The Chairman said that it was difficult to know whether or not there might be a potential migration issue, and suggested that this lack of knowledge pointed to the possible need for work to be carried out. He stressed the importance of liasing with industry as this is a new area. ACTION: MR SINCLAIR.

5.9 Dr Barnes presented to members another recommendation in the published report on the dietary staples research, for investigations on the extent to which styrene oligomers migrate into meat from expanded polystyrene trays. She noted that whilst there had been a lot of work on styrene migration, for example into dairy foods, there had been relatively little work carried out on meat trays. There is currently no limit for styrene in the plastics Directive (90/128/EEC). The Chairman noted that styrene generates a pro-carcinogen, styrene-7,8-oxide. Mr Cass observed that as well as considering the toxicity of styrene, and assessing specific migration limit for this compound, there is also the issue of taint associated with styrene. He added that concerns relating to the migration of oligomers arose from time to time, but the toxicology of these compounds was unclear. The Chairman concluded that there was a need to discuss this further with industry to ensure that work is not repeated. ACTION: MR SINCLAIR.

5.10 Oxygen scavengers and other active packaging ingredients were also highlighted in the report as areas warranting further investigation. Dr Barnes drew members’ attention to a recently commissioned FSA project to look at current trends in active packaging and identify potential migration issues. Dr Barnes asked whether members thought further work was required in this area. Mr Whitaker responded that the use of oxygen scavengers is becoming increasingly prevalent in Europe, citing the example of their use in the crown closures of some Italian beers. Headded that polymer-based, multi-layer bottles also incorporate scavengers. Dr Barnes explained that the FSA work is using the EU Fair Project ACTIPAK (CT98-4170) as a starting point for evaluation of potential migration issues associated with active packaging on the UK market. The Chairman concluded that the commissioning of further work would depend on the outcome of the current project.

5.11 Dr Barnes asked members for comments on possible research into the migration of biocides into foodstuffs from paper and board. Nigel Barnwell asked what regulations exist in the UK to control the use of biocides in paper and board, and whether the CEN method, mentioned in Annex III to Working Party paper WPFCM/141, was favoured for the determination of transfer of antimicrobial substituents from paper and board intended to come into contact with food. The Chairman noted that the CEN method is microbiologically-based and that biocides are difficult to detect in this way, with false negative and false positive results occurring. Dr Willetts added that if the CEN method had been taken forward successfully in Europe this would suggest that it is credible, despite it possibly having limited specificity and sensitivity. Dr Gault commented that the presence of unknown antimicrobials would make chemical testing difficult. The Chairman suggested that it would be preferable to improve the existing microbiological test method, as developing chemical tests for all the substances would require the allocation of substantial resources. Mr Whitaker asked whether the work included packaging materials other than paper and board and whether the use of Triclosan fitted into this category. Dr Barnes commented that this proposed area of work is on a method of testing paper and board and not other types of materials that may contain biocides.

5.12 Dr Barnes drew members’ attention to the development of multi-methods for components of printing inks. She asked members whether they thought breakdown/reaction products should be considered, as in a planned Council of Europe resolution on printing inks. Mr Whitaker informed the meeting of current work on metal decoration to identify the possibility of set-off. Dr Willetts drew attention to a recently-published, Agency-funded project ‘Definitive test for set-off of pigments and other non-volatile substances for flexible packaging’. Mr Whitaker reported that there were discussions in the Council of Europe on a threshold of interest from set-off. He added that he had useful contacts within the Council of Europe with whom he could put members in touch, if they were interested. The Chairman thanked him. Mr Whitaker reportedthat there has been an increasing trend for printing inks to be used on the inside of packaging. Dr Barnes agreed, explaining that whilst this seemed to be prevalent in the USA, especially on confectionery wrapping, it was not so common at the moment in the UK. She referred members to the recently reported project on chemical migration from inks and associated coatings used on the food contact surface of packages. The Chairman concluded that further work in this area would be premature.

5.13 The Chairman informed members that the Agency is currently spending approximately £500,000 per annum on research in this area and that work is prioritised. He noted that there was now a research committee within the Agency, but that there was no suggestion that research on food contact materials would be curtailed. The Chairman thanked members for the continued high standard of their contribution and invited them to get in touch with the Secretariat with any other ideas for further research.

6. Paper for information: (Food Survey Information Sheet No. 27/02. Paper and board packaging: Not likely to be a source of acrylamide in food. WPFCM/142)

6.1 This paper was noted.

7. Any other business

7.1 Mr Barnwell informed the meeting of industry research into levels of acrylamide in virgin paper and board, initial results of which look promising. He offered to send a copy of the published work to the Agency, once completed.

7.2 The Chairman drew members' attention to the recently published Agency Research and Survey Programmes Annual Report 2002. Copies could be obtained from the Secretariat, or the report could be viewed on the Agency website.

8. Date of next meeting

8.1 The Chairman informed members that the Secretariat would trawl by post for a suitable date for the next meeting, which would be held in May 2003.