The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have reaffirmed their advice against the use of plastic containers and utensils containing bamboo and other unauthorised plant-based materials. Businesses are reminded that these products remain non-compliant with legislation due to ongoing safety concerns and should not be sold.
This advisory follows a directive from May 2022, instructing the industry to cease selling food contact materials incorporating bamboo and similar plant-based substances such as rice husks, wheat straw, and hemp. This was in conjunction with a call for evidence to evaluate the long-term safety of these materials.
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT) has reviewed the new data submitted to the FSA and FSS. The COT concluded that there is insufficient evidence to ensure these products’ safety, maintaining concerns about potential health impacts from prolonged use.
Accordingly, the FSA and FSS are continuing to mandate the removal of these items from sale and advise consumers to avoid using them for food-related purposes. The presence of bamboo and similar plant-based materials in plastic products can lead to the release of formaldehyde and melamine into food or drink, exceeding legal limits and posing health risks.
Formaldehyde, though naturally produced by the body, can cause gastrointestinal issues when ingested in high amounts. Melamine has low acute toxicity in the short term but can result in kidney damage and urinary tract issues with long-term exposure at high levels.
While short-term use is unlikely to pose immediate health risks, the FSA and FSS recommend minimizing exposure due to the unclear long-term effects. Thus, these products should not be available for sale in Great Britain (GB), and consumers are advised to dispose of them or repurpose them for non-food uses.
In Northern Ireland, such products have already been banned for sale under the European Commission Food Contact Material legislation, with businesses adhering to this ruling.
The advisory specifically pertains to items made from a combination of plastic and plant-based materials, not those solely composed of bamboo or similar substances. Businesses should ensure that any remaining bamboo or plant-based products on the market do not contain plastic components.
Dr. James Cooper, deputy director of food policy at the FSA, stated:
“At the Food Standards Agency, our mission is to ensure food is safe, including the safety of products that come into contact with our food, such as containers and utensils. Our thorough risk assessment process has shown insufficient evidence to guarantee the safety of these products for consumer use. Therefore, our stance remains that food containers and utensils containing bamboo composite material should not be sold in GB.
“We are uncertain about the long-term health impacts of these products, and we remain concerned about chemicals like formaldehyde and melamine potentially leaching from these materials when in contact with food, especially hot or acidic foods.
“Previously, businesses were asked to remove these products from sale, and consumers were advised not to use any they had purchased until a full investigation into the potential risks was completed. Now that this investigation is complete, we advise consumers who still possess these items to avoid using them for food purposes and dispose of them in general waste. Businesses must ensure these products are not available for sale.
“These products are neither compostable nor recyclable, so consumers should discard them in the general waste bin or repurpose them for non-food uses.”
For more information, view the updated notice on the FSA and FSS websites or contact their customer service for further assistance.