[Chinese Packaging Network News] Recently, some media reported that instant containers, tea and other paper containers with fluorescent substances exceeding the standard would be hazardous to health. The following is a brief description of the applicable standards for food packaging papers:
China's Hygiene Standards for Paper Packaging Papers clearly specify the health indicators of lead, arsenic, fluorescent substances, decolorization tests, coliform bacteria, and pathogenic bacteria in raw papers that are in direct contact with food, and have established standards for supporting testing methods. "Methods for Analysis of Hygienic Standards for Raw Paper for Food Packaging". The outer layer of food packaging materials is not applicable to the Hygienic Standards for Raw Paper for Food Packaging.
At present, paper cups and paper bowls for instant noodles, milk tea, and other foods are generally double-layered laminating products. The paper materials that are in direct contact with foods should meet the Hygienic Standards for Raw Paper for Food Packaging, and the laminating materials should conform to the corresponding standards. The outer layer of food packaging containers should avoid direct contact with food, and take measures to prevent the migration of fluorescent substances to food, to avoid harm to human health.
Note: Other national or regional standards
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists substances permitted for use in paper and paperboard for food contact in Section 176 of Part 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. There are no restrictions on fluorescent whitening agents. The FDA has also approved a batch of substances that can be used for paper and board, including fluorescent brighteners, through the Food Contact Substance Notification Program.
The European Union has no regulations for food packaging papers and generally follows the provisions of the German Federal Institute of Risk Assessment, Part 36 of the Food Contact Materials Regulations for food contact paper. The BfR 36/2 baking paper section states that baking paper should not use colorants or optical brighteners, but does not include foodstuffs in multi-layer paper and cardboard when the colorants or fluorescent brighteners do not migrate into foods. The above materials can be used for the direct-contact outer paper. The European Council Directive stipulates that fluorescent brighteners can only be added to kitchen towels and napkins, and the maximum amount used should not exceed 0.3%. Other food contact paper products should comply with German BfR regulations for food contact paper.
Countries such as Japan, Australia, and New Zealand have no specific regulations for food packaging paper, and are managed only by the general regulations for food contact materials.