Food sold in recycled cardboard packaging
Researchers found toxic chemicals from recycled newspapers had contaminated food sold in many cardboard cartons.
The chemicals, known as mineral oils, come from printing inks.
Cereal firm Jordans has stopped using recycled cardboard and other firms are to ensure their recycled packaging does not contain any toxic oils.
Kellogg's and Weetabix said they were taking steps to reduce the amount of mineral oil in their packaging.
Exposure to mineral oils has been linked to inflammation of internal organs and cancer.
Government scientists in Switzerland found quantities of mineral oils between 10 and 100 times above the agreed limit in foods like pasta, rice and cereals sold in cartons made from recycled cardboard.
'Frightening' potential
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Should there be any evidence from our study - and we will carry out a risk assessment - we will take immediate action to protect the public.”
Terry Donohoe
Food Standards Agency
In one scientific paper they describe the potential for mineral oils to migrate into foodstuffs as "frightening".
However, the Swiss food safety authorities have concluded that consumers who eat a balanced and varied diet have no need to worry.
In a statement Jordans said that, as an environmentally responsible company which had previously used largely recycled packaging, it had taken the decision to abandon it reluctantly, but felt it was sensible.
The BBC investigation found other food companies were aware of the issue - but none had so far followed Jordans' lead.
More than half the cardboard used in Europe is made from recycled materials.
So-called "virgin board" from newly harvested trees is more expensive and there is not enough of it to replace recycled card completely.
The research has been led by Dr Koni Grob at the government-run food safety laboratory of the Canton of Zurich.
In one study for the German food ministry last year he and his colleagues tested a sample of 119 products bought from German supermarkets.
They found mineral oils passed easily through many of the inner bags used to keep food dry and fresh.
More than half of Europe's cardboard is made from recycled materials
The longer a product stood on the shelves, the more mineral oil it was likely to absorb.
Dr Grob told the BBC: "Roughly 30 products from these 119 were free of mineral oil.
"For the others they all exceeded the limit, and most exceeded it more than 10 times, and we calculated that in the long run they would probably exceed the limit 50 times on average and many will exceed it several hundred times."
Ala: paper packaging , corrugated boxes , injection molded packaging , clamshells , clamshell packaging
The agreed safe limit for mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons, derived from an expert evaluation carried out for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organisation, is a migration of 0.6mg per kilogram.
The chemicals, known as mineral oils, come from printing inks.
Cereal firm Jordans has stopped using recycled cardboard and other firms are to ensure their recycled packaging does not contain any toxic oils.
Kellogg's and Weetabix said they were taking steps to reduce the amount of mineral oil in their packaging.
Exposure to mineral oils has been linked to inflammation of internal organs and cancer.
Government scientists in Switzerland found quantities of mineral oils between 10 and 100 times above the agreed limit in foods like pasta, rice and cereals sold in cartons made from recycled cardboard.
'Frightening' potential
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
Should there be any evidence from our study - and we will carry out a risk assessment - we will take immediate action to protect the public.”
Terry Donohoe
Food Standards Agency
In one scientific paper they describe the potential for mineral oils to migrate into foodstuffs as "frightening".
However, the Swiss food safety authorities have concluded that consumers who eat a balanced and varied diet have no need to worry.
In a statement Jordans said that, as an environmentally responsible company which had previously used largely recycled packaging, it had taken the decision to abandon it reluctantly, but felt it was sensible.
The BBC investigation found other food companies were aware of the issue - but none had so far followed Jordans' lead.
More than half the cardboard used in Europe is made from recycled materials.
So-called "virgin board" from newly harvested trees is more expensive and there is not enough of it to replace recycled card completely.
The research has been led by Dr Koni Grob at the government-run food safety laboratory of the Canton of Zurich.
In one study for the German food ministry last year he and his colleagues tested a sample of 119 products bought from German supermarkets.
They found mineral oils passed easily through many of the inner bags used to keep food dry and fresh.
More than half of Europe's cardboard is made from recycled materials
The longer a product stood on the shelves, the more mineral oil it was likely to absorb.
Dr Grob told the BBC: "Roughly 30 products from these 119 were free of mineral oil.
"For the others they all exceeded the limit, and most exceeded it more than 10 times, and we calculated that in the long run they would probably exceed the limit 50 times on average and many will exceed it several hundred times."
Ala: paper packaging , corrugated boxes , injection molded packaging , clamshells , clamshell packaging
The agreed safe limit for mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons, derived from an expert evaluation carried out for the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organisation, is a migration of 0.6mg per kilogram.
bldiecasting - 11. Mär, 02:31
