In a report published today, Friends of the Earth (FoE) Europe claim Untested and potentially hazardous manufactured nanomaterials can be found in food, food packaging and other products on supermarket shelves across the European Union.
Are Nano foods potentially harming our health?
In 'Out of the laboratory and on to our plates: Nanotechnology in food and agriculture' FoE claim that despite concerns about the toxicity risks of nanomaterials, consumers are unknowingly ingesting them because regulators are struggling to keep pace with their rapidly expanding use.
Nanotechnology is now used in the manufacture of products such as nutritional supplements, cling wrap and containers, antibacterial kitchenware, processed meats, chocolate drinks, baby food and chemicals used in agriculture. At least 104 food and agricultural products containing manufactured nanomaterials, or produced using nanotechnology, are currently on sale worldwide. However, industry analysts estimate that there could be several hundred nano food products on the international market.
Friends of the Earth's investigation claims that in the EU, and elsewhere in the world, laws are ill-equipped to deal with the unique properties of nanomaterials.
The group is calling on European policy-makers to adopt comprehensive and precautionary legislation to manage the risks caused by the use of nanotechnology and is recommending the introduction of policies supporting sustainable food and farming in order to improve public and environmental health.
Helen Holder, coordinator of the Food and Farming campaign at Friends of the Earth Europe said: "Europeans should not be exposed to potentially toxic materials in their food and food packaging until proper regulations are in place to ensure their safety. Policy-makers must stop claiming that existing regulatory frameworks are adequate to deal with the emerging science of nanotechnology and address the gaps in current food safety legislation as soon as possible."
"In the absence of proper safety regulations or mandatory labelling, consumers are being left in the dark about the products they are consuming and are unknowingly putting their health and the environment at risk," she added.
For more information please contact:
Helen Holder, Coordinator of the Food and Farming campaign at Friends of the Earth Europe, Tel: +32 2 542 0182, helen.holder@foeeurope.org
Source: Friends of the Earth Europe