BRUSSELS—The European Commission set a maximum level for food packaging printed with inks containing 4-methylbenzophenone (4-MBP) after it was found the potentially cancerous chemical was being used on some breakfast cereal boxes, reported FLEXNEWS.
The European Union food safety experts met last week after packaging recalls in Belgium, Germany, Greece, Portugal and Spain.
“Food contact materials printed with inks containing 4-Methylbenzophenone or Benzophenone should not be brought in contact with foods unless it is demonstrated in the company's in-house documentation that the transfer into food of the sum of 4-Methylbenzophenone and Benzophenone is below 0.6 mg per kg food,” said EC Health spokesperson Nina Papadoulaki.
