{"id":137672,"date":"2026-05-14T12:28:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/14\/recycled-plastics-for-food-use-need-stronger-safeguards-un-food-safety-experts-warn-global-issues\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T12:30:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T12:30:36","slug":"recycled-plastics-for-food-use-need-stronger-safeguards-un-food-safety-experts-warn-global-issues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/2026\/05\/14\/recycled-plastics-for-food-use-need-stronger-safeguards-un-food-safety-experts-warn-global-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"Recycled plastics for food use need stronger safeguards, UN food safety experts warn – Global Issues"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The UN food safety agency has warned that recycled plastics and alternative packaging materials can help reduce waste, but only if recycling systems are carefully managed to prevent harmful chemicals from entering food. <\/p>\n

“Plastic waste is a growing global problem. Better and more effective recycling is fundamental and part of the solution,<\/strong>\u201cVittorio Fattori, a food safety official, said fao<\/a>. <\/p>\n

“Although we need to reduce plastic pollution and improve recycling, We need to ensure that by trying to solve one problem in one area, we do not create new problems.<\/strong>” <\/p>\n

Food packaging plays a central role in modern food systems in maintaining quality, extending shelf life, and reducing food loss. The sector is growing rapidly, with the market projected to grow from an estimated $505 billion in 2024 to more than $815 billion by 2030.<\/p>\n

Yet the growth of plastic packaging has raised environmental concerns. Less than 10 percent of global plastic waste has been recycled so far<\/strong>However, this share is expected to increase as countries pursue sustainability goals.<\/p>\n

a complex recycling stream<\/h2>\n

Unlike many other recycled products, food packaging must meet strict chemical safety standards.<\/p>\n

Plastic food containers and wrappers may contain thousands of substances used during manufacturing, including stabilizers, coatings, pigments, and plasticizers. Additional contaminants may enter during the recycling process through improper sorting, environmental exposure or past consumer use. <\/p>\n

The FAO analysis also found that recycled plastics may contain higher levels of metals, flame retardants, phthalates and persistent organic pollutants than newly produced plastics. <\/p>\n

Experts stress that recycled plastics approved for food use can be just as safe as virgin plastics when they undergo rigorous cleaning, decontamination and regulatory review. For example, in the European Union (EU), authorized recycled food-contact materials must meet the same standards as virgin plastics. <\/p>\n

“The main findings of the report are: While recycled plastics and alternative food contact materials may provide environmental benefits, they may also raise some important food safety questions.<\/strong>\u201cMr Fattori said.<\/p>\n

“Implementing (circular economy principles) is important, it’s fundamental. But it must be done in the right way.” <\/p>\n

\n

\u00a9 Unsplash\/Calvin Sihongo<\/p>\n

Plastic is collected for recycling in the South African city of Johannesburg.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

New material, new questions<\/h2>\n

The analysis also examines alternative packaging materials, including bioplastics, plant fibers and protein-based materials, which are increasingly promoted as more sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics. <\/p>\n

But “Bio-based” doesn’t always mean biodegradable<\/strong>. Some materials derived from renewable sources, such as corn or sugarcane, are chemically similar to fossil fuel-based plastics, while others break down only under specific conditions.<\/p>\n

The report warns that plant-based packaging may pose risks associated with agriculture, including pesticide residues, toxins and heavy metals. Protein-based ingredients can also allow allergens like gluten to transfer into the food. <\/p>\n

Like traditional plastics, many alternatives also rely on chemical additives to improve performance and some still lack adequate long-term safety data.<\/p>\n

Microplastics are poorly understood<\/h2>\n

The analysis also addresses the growing public concern over microplastics and nanoplastics found in food and beverages. Scientists have detected tiny plastic particles in human blood, lungs, breast milk and placenta, confirming widespread exposure. <\/p>\n

But regulators lack reliable and harmonized methods to consistently detect and measure those particles, making it difficult to assess clear risks to human health. <\/p>\n

The report notes that recycling facilities themselves can contribute to microplastic pollution, especially during mechanical recycling processes that break plastics into smaller pieces. <\/p>\n

“It all must start with well-controlled recycling processes, including cleaning and removal of chemical contaminants,<\/strong>Mr. Fattori said. <\/p>\n

\"Rows
\n

\u00a9 Unsplash\/Arshad Poolu<\/p>\n

Many plastic products, such as beverage bottles, are made for one-time use only.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

towards global standards<\/h2>\n

It is hoped that the findings will inform ongoing discussions in the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international food standards body established by FAO and the World Health Organization.Who<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The report notes that countries currently apply different regulatory approaches to recycled plastics and food-contact materials, creating challenges for trade and consumer protection.<\/p>\n

“Our role is, firstly, to provide assistance to countries in terms of harmonizing rules for example on food safety implications related to packaging materials.<\/strong>Mr. Fattori said.<\/p>\n

According to the report, harmonized global standards will help countries strengthen science-based food safety systems while also helping countries reduce plastic waste.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The UN food safety agency has warned that recycled plastics and alternative packaging materials can help reduce waste, but only if recycling systems are carefully managed to prevent harmful chemicals from entering food. “Plastic waste is a growing global problem. Better and more effective recycling is fundamental and part of the solution,\u201cVittorio Fattori, a food<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":137676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[1558,537,99,2256,29095,22206,1349,1093,2818,664],"class_list":["post-137672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bible-news","tag-experts","tag-food","tag-global","tag-issues","tag-plastics","tag-recycled","tag-safeguards","tag-safety","tag-stronger","tag-warn"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=137672"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137672\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":137677,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/137672\/revisions\/137677"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/137676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=137672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=137672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiancorner.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=137672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}