EFSA this week released the results of its scientifc reviews of the packaging materials 1,4:3,6-Dianhydrosorbitol, 1,4:3,6-Dianhydrosorbitol, and a form of polyethyleneglycol. EU legislation requires that all materials that come into contact with food comply with health standards so that safe food remains safe. The main problem stems from chemicals that can migrate from the packaging to the foods they contain. Before a substance is authorised to be used in food contact materials and is included in a positive list of such substances, EFSA´s opinion on its safety is required. In the lastest round of opinions EFSA set a limit of 5 mg/kg of food as a migration limit for 1,4:3,6-Dianhydrosorbitol. The material should only be used as a co-monomer in PEIT. EFSA did not put any special restrictions on isobutylene-butene copolymer. According to the applicant company isobutylene-butene copolymer (IBC) is a copolymer of mainly isobutene and 1-butene and 2-butene. It is used as a polymeric additive to plasticize and to increase the impact strength of polyolefins and polystyrene, and to improve adhesion properties in linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) cling films. Meanwhile the risk agency set a migration limit of 5 mg/kg food on polyethyleneglycol monoalkylether sulphate, sodium salt.
