Let’s put food safety on the table now

Inform the consumers about the hazardous effects of nanotechnology on edibles and other consumer products

Is the colourful packaging that we see all over the marketplace an innocent selling gimmick or a potential health hazard? The recent Maggi controversy disappointed a lot of people. Studies postulated that a possible source of lead contamination in the noodles, among others, could be the packaging that they came in.

The controversy has brought into focus the important issue of the safety standards of the products that we use.

As consumers, we must question and be assured of the safety standards of the products we use. Anything that is produced on a large scale, from packaged food, cosmetics to even socks, may involve the use of substances hazardous to human health and the environment.

Advances in science led us to nanotechnology, which is very useful in manufacturing and the food industry. Unfortunately however, this technology could be leading us to some very dangerous consequences as well.

The food industry uses Engineered Nano Materials (ENMs) or nanoparticles to improve packaging and the durability of food products. ENMs are also used in manufacturing several products, like sunscreens, pharmaceuticals, lipstick, etc. The use of ENMs is estimated to have a global market value of over $1 trillion.

However, the properties that make ENMs extremely advantageous also give them the ability to interact with biological systems that could lead to detrimental environmental and health impacts. Thus, while some of the nanoparticles may be safe, there are some that are hazardous.

The unorganised and unsafe disposal of nanoparticles is the biggest reason why they are considered a risk to human health and environment. Nanoparticles that lie in the landfills or in the soil may disperse from a single metre to several kilometres or may even reach a nearby water source.

A recent study estimated that of the 300 kilo-tonnes of ENMs produced globally by 2010 about 63-91% ended up in landfills. Over 8-28% couldn’t be accommodated in the available landfills and hence lie around in the soil. It was also reported that about 0.4-7% nanoparticles reach the surface water bodies and 1.5% are released into the atmosphere. Recent studies also indicate that nanomaterials that are present in food packaging mate- rials are also present at several steps of the food chain.

While there is significant research available worldwide about the presence of ENMs in food products, there are very few studies that investigate the toxicity of ENMs and their impact on human health. Shockingly, a majority of data about the potential hazards of nanotechnology is undocumented and not adequately known by people at the receiving end — the consumers.

More specifically in India, despite the increase in usage of nano-based products, the potential ENM mass release in the environment still requires a more detailed investigation.

Consumers around the world have the right to know which nanomaterials could be hazardous and to what extent. Thus the discussion around the hazardous effects of packaged food and toxicity must not stop at Maggi. As consumers, it is our right to start asking for informed guidelines about all nano-based food and commercial products.