Responding to an article published by the The Guardian newspaper in the UK, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) has issued a statement to the effect that: “Plastics packaging is safe.”
As reported by BP&R Magazine, BPF director general designate Philip Law says that the article, ‘Chemicals leaching into food from packaging raise safety concerns ('The Guardian', 19 February 2014), followed a “familiar pattern”.
“The article cited a paper from a learned journal warning of long term damage of exposure to synthetics and urging further research,” he says.
“It was an alarmist piece and once again the views on the industry were not solicited.”
Law continues: “A host of chemicals were conveniently swept up under the generic label of ‘synthetics’, with no consideration for their very different, individual profiles.
“There was no suggestion that some of the chemicals commonly regarded as ‘synthetics’ are actually naturally incurring.”
Law adds that no reference was made in the article to the news that in mid-February 2014, the European Commission had completed a review of two phthalates and concluded that they “posed no risk to consumers”.
According to the BPF, the stringency of EU and national regulations dictating the standards of plastics used for food packaging was “indicative of how closely the industry is monitored”.
“Not only is plastics packaging safe, public health benefits significantly from it,” BPF says.
The Federation also highlights developments in plastic packaging over the last 50 years, citing its contribution to “vast improvements in food hygiene” as well as healthcare applications.
