Research on health issues

The risk assessment process involves describing the toxicological hazard profile of a chemical substance, using qualitative and quantitative data, and coupling this to an estimate of exposure to assess any risk. Consequently, the information that is required on packaging chemicals comprises (a) toxicity data and, (b) exposure data. 

With some caveats, the toxicological information required is the same as for other chemical contaminants in our food, irrespective of their source. Chronic effects are the main concern - i.e. low-level long-term exposure to migrating substances. One exception is the migration of tin from tinplate steel into canned tomato products where high tin concentrations in food may cause short-term stomach upsets in some people but without any lasting harm. 

The second part of any risk assessment requires an estimate of consumer exposure to the migrating substance. This depends on a number of factors  

Different countries have this information to a greater or lesser extent. Some have almost everything known and other have almost nothing known. In the absence of detailed statistics then conservative assumptions of intake are made in order to protect consumers. 

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