Stop selling bamboo-based plastics, says the Food Standards Agency

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has told businesses to stop selling plastic containers or utensils which contain bamboo and other plant-based materials, including wheat straw and hemp.

Until the safety of these products has been assessed, products will be unable to remain on the market or in use.

Widely used products made using plastic containing bamboo and similar materials include reusable drinking cups, tableware, cutlery, and chopping boards.

The FSA’s advice does not apply to items made solely from bamboo or plant-based materials, only those products which use a combination of plastic and plant filler.

An initial assessment of the risks presented by food containing plastics with added bamboo was carried out by the Committee on Toxicity (COT), an independent group of scientists which provides advice to the FSA and other government departments on matters concerning the toxicity of chemicals.

The committee concluded that, in some cases, the presence of bamboo and similar plant-based matter in plastic materials could result in the migration of the plastic components, such as formaldehyde or melamine, into food or drink above their legal limit.

The FSA said that whilst any immediate health risk is “unlikely”, the long-term impacts remain uncertain. As a result, the FSA is advising businesses and consumers to not use such products until a full study into the potential risks can be completed.

Last week, the FSA launched a call for evidence and wants manufacturers and businesses to help determine the long-term safety of plastic containers or utensils which contain bamboo and other plant-based materials. The study will close this December.

Natasha Smith, FSA deputy director of food policy said while the FSA does not know if there is a safety concern, it does know that such products, particularly “with hot and acidic foods – or use of a microwave – could cause elevated amounts of chemicals to be released”.

She added: “We want businesses to provide us with as much information on these products as they can, including details of what tests have been carried out on them and how exactly they are being made.

“The call for evidence will enable the FSA to improve our understanding of these products, particularly concerning how varying the ratio of plastic to plant-based material impacts the long-term stability and overall risk.”