Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

FAO warns of the dangers of using recycled plastics and bioplastics in food

The use of recycled plastics and bio-based materials in food packaging could pose a risk of chemical contamination, a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns. The need for stricter global regulation has been advocated.

According to the report, recycled plastic and bio-based materials are increasingly used in food contact packaging. This is a step forward for sustainability, but at the same time it has raised doubts about the harmfulness of some of the components of these materials. Thus, the report highlights the need to improve recycling technologies to prevent harmful substances from reaching food.

On the one hand, materials made from raw materials of biological origin may contain pesticides, toxins or allergens. On the other hand, in the case of recycled plastics, the incorporation of substances to improve the properties of the original plastics has also raised doubts. Therefore, it has been considered necessary to establish cleaning and chemical elimination procedures during the recycling phase to prevent these chemical compounds from passing into food. In addition, insufficient information on accidentally added substances and microplastics has been detected.

They have also noted the need for an inventory or a white list of approved chemicals. They consider it essential to update and unify international regulations. As the report clearly states, the application of circular economy principles in the food system is essential for sustainability, but this should not endanger human health.