Leading food manufacturers are changing the packaging they use for products such as breakfast cereal, after researchers raised concern about possible health risks from recycled cardboard, it was reported today.
Researchers in Switzerland found that mineral oils in printing ink from recycled newspapers used in cardboard can get into foods such as cereal, pasta and rice - even passing through protective inner plastic bags.
Dr Koni Grob, of the Food Safety Laboratory in Zurich, said toxicologists had linked the oils to inflammation of internal organs and even cancer, though he stressed that individual meals would contain only a tiny dose of the chemicals.
The BBC reported that cereal firm Jordans has stopped using recycled cardboard while other manufacturers are taking action to reduce levels of mineral oils in packaging.
The Swiss researchers analysed a total of 119 products bought from German supermarkets last year and found that a large majority contained traces of mineral oils higher than the agreed level. Only those with thicker and more expensive inner lining bags appeared to escape contamination, which increased the longer products were on the shelves.
“Roughly 30 products from 119 were free of mineral oils, nearly all because of an inner barrier,” said Dr Grob. “For the others, they all exceeded the limits and most exceeded it by 10 times.
“We calculated that before the end of their shelf life, they would probably exceed the limit 50 times on average and many would exceed it by several hundred times.”
Studies on rats have highlighted the dangers to health of mineral oils, said Dr Grob, adding: “Toxicologists talk about two effects. One is the chronic inflammation of various internal organs and the other one is cancer.”
But he added: “One meal has no real effect on health. It is a matter of long-term exposure.”
And Swiss food safety authorities have concluded that consumers who eat a balanced and varied diet have no need to worry.
In a statement, Jordans told the BBC it had stopped using recycled card: “As an environmentally-conscious business, Jordans take the decision reluctantly, but felt it was sensible.”
Meanwhile, Kellogg’s said: “We are working with our suppliers on new packaging which allows us to meet our environmental commitments but will also contain significantly lower levels of mineral oil. We are also looking at alternative inner liners for our packs.”
And Weetabix told the BBC: “Weetabix is actively engaged with its packaging suppliers to consider alternative recycled packaging that doesn’t contain recycled newspapers. Our data... does indicate that none of our products pose a risk to consumer health.”
PA