The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have on Thursday advised businesses not to use abandoned environmental plastic, including ocean bound plastic (OBP), in food packaging.
The recommendation follows an assessment by the Joint Expert Group for Food Contact Materials (FCMJEG) on the use of OBP in food contact materials including food packaging for meat, poultry and fish sold in supermarkets.
The food safety watchdogs are currently undertaking work on the potential use of plastic materials from the open environment in food contact applications, specifically plastic materials intercepted before entering the marine environment. These plastic materials are widely referred to as ocean bound plastic and are sourced, recycled and subsequently used in new applications.
After reviewing the assessment, both regulators have concluded there is not enough evidence to confirm the safety of this type of plastic used in food packaging and that it does not impact health.
“Abandoned environmental plastic is a small percentage of the recycled plastic market. The majority comprises kerbside recycled plastics which are still viable for food contact material. Plastic materials collected from established and controlled environments such as UK kerbside collection systems have undergone substantial work in the past to ensure that they adhere to current safety standards,” Dr James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the FSA, said.
“Unfortunately, we are currently not confident that the collection of abandoned environmental plastic, which is subsequently mechanically recycled, is meeting the same standards.
“In light of this, we are advising businesses not to use this type of plastic in food packaging and to look for alternative uses for it.”
