Nanomaterials in food contact materials; considerations for risk assessment

Nanotechnology applications in the food industry, including food contact materials, offer many potential benefits for consumers and manufacturers alike. The article discusses the migration of nanoparticles from food contact materials and the possible health risks associated with in the context of insufficient knowledge of the potential exposure to nanomaterial. The importance of gaps in the general knowledge on the behaviour and biological interactions of nanomaterials in biological systems becomes crucial for risk assessment. The article also discussed numerous doubts concerning the measurements of biological reactions in animal tests and the need for new approaches in the interpretation of data from nanoparticles studies in vivo. The article underlines the need to develop predictive and validated toxicological tests that can be used to screen for potential hazards, and also to develop new methodology for measuring nanoparticles in biological matrices to assess human exposure. Further studies should focus on understanding the mechanisms of action. Nanoparticles exhibit chemical and physical properties that significantly differ from those substances at a large size. Different properties of nanoparticles may lead to different toxicological properties. From that reason nanoparticles, in each case, are individually assessed by the European Food Standard Agency (EFSA) in terms of health risk before the European Commission authorizes them to be used in food contact materials.

[Role of the EFSA in risk management system regarding food contact materials and articles]. / Rola EFSA w systemie zarzadzania ryzykiem w odniesieniu do materialów i wyrobów przeznaczonych do kontaktu z zywnoscia.

The role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the risk management system regarding food contact materials and articles is related with the risk assessment of the substances for the European Commission. General rules for the authorisation of substances used in materials and articles intended to contact with food is established in the Regulation (EC) no 1935/2004. For the evaluation of substances their toxicological properties and magnitude of migration into food simulants is taken into account. Toxicological studies include the mutagenicity tests, oral toxicity studies, carcinogenicity, reproduction and also studies on absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the substance and other studies when needed. The set of the relevant toxicological data for substance depends on the magnitude of migration. In the case of positive opinion by EFSA the substance appears on the Community list of authorised substances. Sometimes, the earlier evaluated and authorized substances must undergo re-evaluation due to their new toxicological properties or as a result of a presence in the food of their earlier unknown decomposition products. Examples of the selected substances which underwent re-evaluation by EFSA in the light of the current toxicological knowledge and the relevant activities undertaken by the European Commission have been presented.