Food safety

Food safety

Food safety

Food safety

In the past 10 years, with the advent of ever more sensitive analytical techniques and the greater attention paid to the hygiene/health and environment, the synthetic lacquers have been the subject of several cases of alert. The problem of the migration of residues of polymerisation, monomers and oligomers (with MW < 1000 DA), additives, such as BADGE and phthalates has given rise to press campaigns and has created doubts and uncertainty among the consumers, with consequent damage to the image of the canmaking industry. Since 2009 there was a big warning about the presence of BPA (Bisphenol A) in food packaging and its dangerous side effects. This molecule has known endocrine disrupting effects also at low BPA doses. The production of a natural BPA-free lacquer would undeniably be an advantage for the whole agro-food chain, and mainly for consumers. The BiocopacPlus lacquer, produced from a natural starting monomer, can be considered safe, thus overcoming the problems of migration of dangerous synthesized substances from the lacquer into the food. Where used, the new BPA-free lacquer would also allow products to be exported to France, where, in 2012, a very restrictive legislation banning BPA from January 2015 onwards was approved.