EFSA’s new opinion on semicarbazide in food

05/07/05 The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted a new opinion on the occurrence and risks associated with the chemical substance semicarbazide (SEM) in food. This follows earlier advice issued in 2003.

The occurrence of SEM in foods, including baby foods, packaged in glass jars and bottles, was first discovered by industry and its origins were traced to the breakdown of azodicarbonamide, the foaming agent in the plastic gaskets that are used to seal metal lids to glass packaging. Industry informed EFSA of this finding in 2003 and of its intention to develop gaskets using an alternative foaming agent. The EFSA AFC Panel at that time advised that while the risk to consumers – if any – was very small, SEM should be removed from baby foods as swiftly as technological progress allowed. This advice was based on findings that SEM is a weak carcinogen in mice and has weak genotoxic activity (i.e. potential to damage genetic material or DNA) in vitro. Since then, new studies showing lack of genotoxic activity of SEM in vivo have become available. The Panel has concluded that this new information reduces concerns about SEM and that the issue of carcinogenicity is not of concern for human health, given the levels of SEM reported during 2003 and 2004 in foods packaged in glass jars and bottles. The implementation of an EC Directive banning the use of azodicarbonamide in plastics used as food contact materials which is due to enter into force on 2 August 2005 should eliminate this source of SEM in food. The Panel also concluded that other, lesser sources of SEM in food were not of concern .

The Chair of the AFC Panel, Dr Sue Barlow, said “We welcome these new findings that reduce our former concerns about low exposures to SEM from food packaging and give further support to our earlier view that the risks – if any – are very small. Removal of the major source of SEM in food will further reduce exposure and contribute to building consumer confidence in such foods, especially for babies.”

Following EFSA’s previous advice, the European Commission asked EFSA to carry out a wider review on the occurrence of SEM in food and to assess possible risks associated with levels of exposure found in the diet. In its new opinion, EFSA’s AFC Panel has identified 5 possible sources of SEM contamination or occurrence in food. By far the most important source is that identified in EFSA’s first opinion through the transfer of SEM to certain foods packed in glass jars and bottles closed with metal lids sealed with plastic gaskets, such as baby food, jams, pickles, mayonnaise and ketchup. Food for infants has been re-confirmed as the most important source of exposure. However, it is anticipated that this source of exposure will soon be eliminated through the introduction of a new sealing technology.

http://www.efsa.eu.int/press_room/press_release/1006_en.html