On October 26, 2017, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) published a scientific opinion on the post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling process ‘Krones.’ Washed and dried PET flakes from post-consumer PET containers, comprising no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications, are used as input to this process. The PET flakes are extruded to pellets and subsequently crystallized and decontaminated in a reactor at high temperature under vacuum. The performed challenge test demonstrated that the recycling process can ensure to limit the migration of potential unknown contaminants to 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the CEF Panel concluded that recycled PET (rPET) obtained from the process ‘Krones’ is safe for the manufacture of food contact materials and articles with up to 100% rPET content. Finished materials and articles are intended “for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill,” the CEF Panel explained. Further, the CEF Panel noted that ‘Krones’ rPET trays should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.

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CEF (October 26, 2017). “Safety assessment of the process ‘Krones’ used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.EFSA Journal 15(10):5015.

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