Never neglect the safety of food packaging

    Food packaging safety is also an important part of food safety, which should be attached great importance.

    In Europe, America, Japan and other countries and regions, food packaging production environment requirements and penalties are the same as food. However, in our country, many consumers do not realize the importance of food packaging safety, and some illegal food packaging enterprises use unqualified packaging materials regardless of consumers'health, leading to some food contamination incidents due to food packaging.

    In January 2005, when potato chips from a food factory in Dingxi County of Gansu Province were inspected at the factory, it was found that the benzene in packaging bags exceeded the standard. In October 2005, the State Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection found that there was DEHA plasticizer in the PVC food preservation film in China, and then requested that the use of PVC film to directly package meat, cooked food and fat food should be prohibited. Food packaging safety is neglected by many producers and regulators, while consumers can not distinguish in the process of purchasing, and often passively use unqualified food packaging.

    In September 2006, the State Administration of Quality Supervision and Inspection issued the Announcement on the Implementation of Market Access System for Food Plastic Packaging, Containers, Tools and other Products, which clearly stipulates the implementation of market access for products listed in the catalogue of food plastic packaging, containers, tools and other products. However, due to the variety of food packaging materials, most food packaging materials have not implemented or enforced market access system, such as ceramics, glass, metal, rubber, bamboo products.

    Article 96 of the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that in the production of food that does not meet the food safety standards or in the sale of food that knowingly does not conform to the food safety standards, consumers may also claim compensation for losses from producers or sellers for ten times the price. However, the "accountability" for the illegal activities in the production and sale of unqualified food packaging is not clear.

    The International Food Packaging Association recently held an exchange in Beijing on "Learning Food Safety Law and Strictly Improving Packaging Quality". Some manufacturers and sellers of food packaging promised not to produce and sell substandard food packaging. But if there is no strict supervision, only rely on the "self-discipline" of the merchants, can the safety of food packaging really be achieved?

    When the whole society pays great attention to food safety, we must not neglect the attention to food packaging safety.