Businesses have been warned not to sell plastic food contact materials (FCMs) made of bamboo and other plant-based materials by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA),Through the UK risk analysis process, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have identified them as a problem. These substances are frequently referred to as plastic composites, bamboo composites, etc.

The safety of using bamboo and other plant-based materials like rice husks and wheat straw in plastic has not been examined. Additionally, they have not been approved for use in plastic food contact materials under retained (EU) Regulation 10/2011 (applicable in England, Wales, and Scotland) or Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 (applicable in Northern Ireland).

The FSA’s advice only applies to products that combine plastic and plant filler; it does not apply to things produced entirely of bamboo or other plant-based materials. Businesses are being warned not to sell plastic utensils or containers that contain bamboo and other plant-based materials, such as hemp, wheat straw, and rice husks.

In order to evaluate the long-term safety of food contact materials in the UK that contain bamboo and other plant-based materials, the Food Standards Agency is also urging retailers and other businesses to reply to a call for evidence. Goods that are currently on the market should be withdrawn until these goods have undergone thorough evaluation and been authorized.

The Committee on Toxicity (COT), an impartial group of scientists that advises on issues relating to the toxicity of chemicals, has conducted an initial assessment of the risks presented by food contact plastics with added bamboo. It was found that in some instances, the inclusion of bamboo and other plant-based elements in plastic materials could cause the migration of plastic ingredients like formaldehyde or melamine into food or drink above the permitted levels.

Consumers are being warned, as a precaution, not to use such items until a thorough investigation into the potential risks can be finished as a result of this initial assessment. It is especially important to avoid using the utensils or containers to consume hot, acidic foods and beverages or to microwave them.