QUESTIONABLE can & aerosol news

Transcription

1 QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS DOMINATE BPA REPORTING Some media reporting recently on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food can linings unfortunately uses questionable claims and does not reflect the findings of most independent scientific study to date. Continued over page... brought to you by Homegrown FOODBANK FINDS A WINNING RECIPE Innovation DNA PERFUME MAKES SCENTS

2 QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS DOMINATE BPA REPORTING cont. Most recognised science from around the world indicates that the small amount of BPA used in food and drink can coatings is safe for human consumption. Current levels of BPA use in canned food have been endorsed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Health Canada and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). The Australian Food and Grocery Council has highlighted that in a recent local test of 38 canned foods that prompted media coverage, none contained BPA levels above the EFSA limit of 600 parts per billion (ppb). In fact, most were significantly lower than the limit. Impress Australasia technical manager Andrew Buchan said that while science supports the use of current levels of BPA in canned food, the industry must nevertheless acknowledge the concerns of consumers as a result of media coverage. People are naturally cautious about the use of chemicals in food products, even though their proper use helps to protect almost everything we eat, said Mr Buchan. Impress Australasia is working with its global lacquer suppliers to develop food can linings that do not contain BPA, where customers request these. Impress is also very safety conscious, which is why we carefully monitor everything that goes into our cans to ensure they meet the toughest international standards, not only with respect to BPA but to overall food safety and quality. We cannot afford to risk rushing non-bpa alternatives into production before they have been thoroughly tested and trialled across a wide range of products. There are no short-cuts when it comes to public safety. For 200 years now, cans have proven to be the best way to store food, with a safety record that is second to none, and we continue to invest considerable resources in R&D to maintain that record. Continued over page... 02

3 QUESTIONABLE CLAIMS DOMINATE BPA REPORTING Mr Buchan also reiterated that most food cans contain a BPA level many times lower than the accepted safe limit as stipulated by national food safety governance bodies. BPA has been used extensively in plastic-based products for 50 years, but recently has been the subject of adverse publicity, cont. especially in relation to polycarbonate baby bottles and food can linings. Major retailers in consultation with the Australian Government have voluntarily agreed to eliminate plastic bottles containing BPA from sale. Heinz Australia has also stated its plans to phase out the use of BPA in all its baby food packaging. FOOD REGULATORS STAND BY BPA Food regulators have found no major health risks associated with the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging and closures, according to the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). Responding to research on BPA levels in foods and baby products by consumer group Choice, the AFGC said food authorities including Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) maintain that levels of exposure to BPA are safe and don t pose a significant health risk. AFGC deputy chief executive Dr Geoffrey Annison noted that Choice found that none of the 38 canned foods tested contained BPA levels above the European Union s limit of 660 parts per billion (ppb). There s no scientific cont. evidence internationally that has shown any dangers to humans from BPA in canned products or bottles, Dr Annison said. Products containing BPA have been subject to significant and rigorous investigations by leading world authorities and, in recent years, food regulators in the United States, UK and the EU have examined the latest findings and have determined that the use of BPA continues to be safe. FSANZ s chief scientist Paul Brent recently said the regulator was working closely with industry in Australia after having meetings with AFGC and the Packaging Council of Australia, as well as various manufacturers of canned foods and infant formula. Following consultation with industry, Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler announced a voluntary phase-out by major retailers and manufacturers of baby bottles containing BPA from July 1, following some level of public concern relating to BPA. Dr Annison said: Australian manufacturers have acknowledged this level of consumer concern and proactively undertaken to phase out baby bottles containing BPA. The industry understands that BPA-free products, including baby food cans, will be available within 12 months, with metal closures on glass jars and bottles to follow soon afterwards. Source: Australian Food and Grocery Council 03

4 World News TOMATO SOUP TURNS 100 Arguably the world s most popular soup Heinz Cream of Tomato celebrated its 100th birthday on 1 September with the release of a special can that revives the original packaging design. Heinz also marked the centenary for its famed soup with a party at the place where it all began the historic Fortnum & Mason store in London s Piccadilly, where the canned soup originally went on sale in September The limited-edition celebration cans are based on the design introduced with the 1910 can and are available exclusively at the Piccadilly store during the celebration period, but will then be available in supermarkets throughout the UK from next month. The centenary and the release of the limited-edition label is backed by a 2m (A$3.4 million) advertising campaign. Heinz has sold 8.2 billion cans of Cream of Tomato Soup since 1910 and sales are running stronger than ever, with almost 95 million cans sold in the UK this year. Fortnum & Mason festivities include special hampers and a birthday-themed window display showing the soup s journey though history, including original soup cans and advertisements from the last 100 years. with a Bloody Mary style Cream of Tomato soup and Rose veal and basil meatballs with Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup and fresh penne pasta. Fortnum & Mason is where the nation s love affair with Heinz Cream of Tomato Soup began, said Heinz spokesman Nigel Dickie. The fact that Heinz Soup is still as popular today as it was a hundred years ago is a testament to the staying power of one of the UK s best-loved food brands. ALLERGIES ON THE INCREASE OR ARE THEY? New data reveals a near doubling of consumers avoiding certain foods due to allergies and intolerances since last year but many of these consumers may be mistaken. The report follows a warning from the UK National Institute of Health suggesting that two million children are wrongly labelled as having a food allergy. The increase from 15 per cent to 27 per cent of consumers avoiding certain food and drinks for allergy or intolerance indicates there is a certain degree of paranoia, said Datamonitor analyst Mark Whalley. There is a generation of consumers who believe they are allergic or intolerant to food and beverages that they are actually perfectly fine to consume. The implications, however, are positive for manufacturers in niche areas such as gluten-free, as their products are proving increasingly appealing to this type of conservative consumer. The store s prestigious Gallery restaurant is also joining in with the This birthday is both a introduction of exclusive menu celebration of the last century offerings, including Oysters and a look ahead to the future. 04 NEWS

5 Homegrown FOODBANK FINDS A WINNING RECIPE Simplot Australia s goal of providing more than one million meals for homeless and hungry Australians came to fruition in Sydney on 24 August when Foodbank Australia hosted a lunch to launch the company s free pasta program. About 70 people who rely on hunger relief sat down at the Salvation Army in Surry Hills to a wholesome meal of spaghetti and bolognese sauce the first meals made from 800 tonnes of pasta and 100,000 cans of pasta sauce donated by Simplot and its partners, including Impress Australasia. The lunch was attended by NSW minister for housing Frank Terenzini, who praised the role played by the food and packaging industries in supporting the vital work done by welfare agencies. Foodbank CEO John Webster (right) said the donations would help his organisation provide 70,000 meals a day through 2200 welfare agencies such as the Salvation Army. Following the lunch at Surry Hills, the pasta and sauce will be distributed to welfare agencies all over Australia by Foodbank s state distribution centres. Surry Hills Salvation Army director Robbin Moulds said: There are many thousands of homeless people throughout Australia who will welcome the prospect of a hot and nourishing meal from this major Foodbank initiative. The production of the pasta and pasta sauce is part of Foodbank s collaborative supply program, which aims to meet the high demand for nutritious food items for Australian families in need. Currently, there is a significant gap between the amount of staple food products donated and what is needed to feed Australia s hungry, said Mr Webster. Foodbank aims to close this gap with the collaborative supply program, through the donation of goods and services from its valued partners. Impress Australasia donated the 100,000 cans, which were filled by Simplot with quality Leggo s pasta sauce. The project pulled together more than a dozen suppliers and other supporters. 05

6 Innovation DNA PERFUME MAKES SCENTS Personalised perfumes and personalised bottles are not entirely new, but a US company has taken things considerably further with perfumes and colognes made using people s own DNA genetic code. My DNA Fragrance of Beverly Hills, California, creates individual fragrances for men and women using a DNA sample provided by the customer. They are packaged in aluminum bottles to protect the contents from sunlight. It is recommended that the bottles are stored at refrigerated temperatures between degrees Fahrenheit (about 3-8 degrees Celsius) to preserve the exclusive fragrances. We use an aluminum bottle because fragrance compounds in perfumes will degrade or break down if improperly stored in the presence of heat, light, oxygen or extraneous organic materials, said a company spokesman. The presence of oxygen in the head space of the bottle, along with environmental factors, will alter the smell of the fragrance after a while. Perfumes are best preserved when kept in light-proof aluminum bottles and refrigerated to relatively low temperatures. The company said each My DNA fragrance is mixed by hand. The process starts within two days of ordering, when a DNA Swab Kit is sent to the customer so that the sample can be collected. The swab collection process is painless and as simple as brushing your teeth, the company spokesman said. Just follow the enclosed instructions and send your sample back directly to our laboratory to protect your privacy. Once your DNA sample is processed, we a copy of your DNA Genetic Code for your records and the perfumer will begin your formulation process. Each fragrance is an exclusive one-of-a-kind perfume. It is custom-made and each fragrance is individually mixed by hand. The company keeps each formulation on file, making refills easier and faster when processing. A two-ounce bottle of perfume (about 60ml) costs $US199 ($A216) while a similar bottle of cologne for men or women retails for $US120 ($A130). 06