Simple tests reveal food contamination

Decisive action can be taken by manufacturers and materials suppliers who are concerned about the recent publicity given to semicarbazide elements in baby food and other packaging.

Decisive action can be taken by manufacturers and materials suppliers who are concerned about the recent publicity given to semicarbazide elements in baby food and other packaging, according to Rapra Technology.

Rapra Technology, Europe's leading polymer research and test house, says that analytical tests are available which will quickly reveal whether or not gaskets contain semicarbazide or indeed any other residues from blowing agents.

Both liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and time-of-flight gas chromatography (GCxGC-TOF) methods are used at Rapra's Shawbury headquarters.

The UK's Food Standards Agency Chairman Sir John Krebs stated last week that the FSA was asking the food industry to look at the usage of semicarbazide in its packaging as a possible carcinogen.

In particular, the use of foamed PVC sealing gaskets for metal lids on glass bottles and jars used for baby food was highlighted.

Semicarbazide is a breakdown product of the blowing agent azodicarbonamide which is authorised for use in the EU as a blowing agent for plastics in contact with food.

The amounts of semicarbazide that have been detected in food are low, ranging from not detectable up to 20mg/kg of food.

Levels of 1-7mg semicarbazide per kilogram of gasket material have been detected in extracts of the gaskets themselves.

In an FSA statement Krebs added that: "Further work needs to take place to understand the risks from semicarbazide.

On the basis of the current limited and inconclusive evidence the FSA is not advising against eating food in jars.

Parents may understandably be concerned by the continuing uncertainty, which may lead some parents to choose alternative food for their babies".

Rapra Technology advanced analytical equipment resources have benefited from the recent GBP 600,000 investment enabled by the new structure of the company which underwent a management buyout in July 2002.

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