Safety assessment of the active substances carboxymethylcellulose, acetylated distarch phosphate, bentonite, boric acid and aluminium sulfate, for use in active food contact materials

Vittorio Silano , Claudia Bolognesi , Kevin Chipman , Jean Pierre J. P. Cravedi (1) , Karl‐heinz Engel , Paul Fowler , Roland Franz , Konrad Grob , Rainer Gürtler , Trine Husøy , Sirpa Kärenlampi , Wim Mennes , Maria Rosaria Milana , Karla Pfaff , Gilles Rivière , Jannavi Srinivasan , Maria de Fátima Tavares Poças , Christina Tlustos , Detlef Wölfle , Holger Zorn , Martine Kolf-Clauw , Eugenia Lampi , Kettil Svensson , Ellen van Haver , Laurence Castle

1 ToxAlim - ToxAlim

This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panelon Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety evaluation of the active substances carboxymethylcellulose, acetylated distarch phosphate (FCM substance No1071), bentonite, boric acid and aluminium sulfate (FCM substance No1072). The mixture is intended to be used as a liquid absorber in the packaging of perishable foods to extend their shelf-life. All substances have been evaluated and approved for use as additives in plastic food contact materials and/or as food additives. Migration of boron into foods was up to 0.7mg/kg food. Migration of aluminium was not detected (limit of detection (LOD) of 0.001mg/kg). The CEF Panelconcludes that the substances carboxymethylcellulose, acetylated distarch phosphate, bentonite, boric acid and aluminium sulfate are not of safety concern for the consumer when used as active components in moisture and liquid absorbers. The absorbent pads must be used under conditions in which direct contact between the active mixture and the food is avoided and the fluid absorption capacity of the absorber is not exceeded.

Mots clés: carboxymethylcellulose; acetylated distarch phosphate; bentonite; boric acid and aluminium sulfate; food contact materials; active and intelligent materials; safety assessment

Domaines: Alimentation et Nutrition; Ingénierie des aliments

Vittorio Silano, Claudia Bolognesi, Kevin Chipman, Jean Pierre J. P. Cravedi, Karl‐heinz Engel, et al.. Safety assessment of the active substances carboxymethylcellulose, acetylated distarch phosphate, bentonite, boric acid and aluminium sulfate, for use in active food contact materials. EFSA Journal, 2018, 16 (2), 7 p. ⟨10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5121⟩. ⟨hal-02617979⟩