Tabletop Trends: The BPA ban - what you need to know
The BPA ban – what you need to know
FEA’s technical and policy director, Andy Threlfall CFSP MInstR, gives a brief outline of a complicated issue!
BPA, or Bisphenol A to give it its proper name, has been something of a bête noir of the LET sector for some time. It’s a main component of polycarbonate and has been used in many foodservice applications. In the 1990s concerns were raised about its safety and since then many manufacturers have moved over to BPA-free plastics.
Recently the EU Expert Committee approved a proposal from the European Commission to ban BPA in food contact materials.
Although any ban would not apply in the UK by law, companies supplying both the EU and UK markets would obviously need to comply. UK authorities are currently evaluating the situation and once all the information is collated, the Food Standards Agency will consider next steps, which will likely include updating current restrictions in relation to BPA.
The EU ban will apply to all materials and articles that are intended to come into contact with food, including kitchenware and tableware, as well as production, transport and storage equipment used in the foodservice industry. BPA can also be found in, for example, food and beverage cans, food packaging, plastic drinks bottles and food processing equipment. The ban is unlikely to apply to containers used for food waste.
In conclusion, whilst BPA is not currently banned in the UK it would be wise for distributors to point their customers towards BPA-free products. How to tell the difference? It’s not always the case, but usually the manufacturer will state on the item if it is free from BPA.
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This article is part of Tabletop Trends - FEA's quarterly light equipment and tableware sector newsletter.
Tabletop Trends is produced and distributed by the Foodservice Equipment Association, the UK's largest independent foodservice equipment trade association. All suppliers listed in this article are FEA members. A full list of Light Equipment and Table suppliers can be found on our Meet Our Members section - simply select Light Equipment / Food Prep from the Product Type drop down menu
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