Source: UN News: Monday, 18 May 2026 00:01 AM
It sounds very good to say that plastic should be recycled instead of being used once, that is, plastic products should be used again and again, but with the increasing use of recycled plastic in food packaging, the risks related to food safety can also increase. of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (F.A.O.According to a new report by ), the increasing use of recycled plastic is beneficial for the environment as it reduces plastic waste, but plastic that comes in contact with food items is also harmful to health. In view of this, the report emphasizes the need for global food safety guidelines. Currently, the global food packaging market is continuously growing. By 2024, it is estimated to be worth more than $505 billion, and is projected to reach more than $815 billion by 2030. “Plastic waste is a growing global problem,” says Vittorio Fattori, Food Safety and Quality Officer at FAO. “Plastic waste is a key solution, but efforts to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling must also ensure that while addressing one problem “Let us not create new problems elsewhere.” The UN official said the main conclusion of the report is that recycled plastics and other alternative materials that come into contact with food can be beneficial for the environment, but they also raise important questions related to food safety. “In the report we make clear that it is very important to adopt the principles of circular economy, but this must be done in the right way, otherwise potential chemical contamination during recycling can create food safety risks,” the report says. Special attention also needs to be paid to bio-based food contact ingredients made from natural and renewable sources, such as maize, sugarcane and cassava. These ingredients may pose new risks due to their raw materials, including pesticides, environmental pollutants, natural toxins or allergens. Recommendations… According to the FAO official, the report offers a number of recommendations and a way forward. First, it is important to properly control the recycling process, including cleaning and removing chemical contaminants, so that these chemicals do not reach food. Second, it is important to understand that there is very little scientific data available on food safety for some substances. Therefore, more research and data is needed to know how these chemicals are formed and whether they can leach into food from packaging materials and, if yes, how? © Unsplash/Simon Weisser Recycling can pose food safety risks, such as potential chemical contamination. The role of FAO is to assist countries in harmonizing food safety rules relating to food packaging materials. The findings of the report will guide discussions and work, particularly in the Codex Alimentarius Commission. It is a United Nations organization that sets international food safety standards to protect consumer health and facilitate global trade.