The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) authorized mixtures of “iron based oxygen absorber systems comprising iron, sodium chloride, water, silica gel, activated carbon, monosodium glutamate, potassium acid tartrate, powdered cellulose, malic acid, chabazite, hydroxypropyl cellulose, potassium carbonate, sodium thiosulfate, propylene glycol, glycerin, polyethyleneglycol sorbitan monooleate, sodium propionate and clinoptilolite, incorporated in sachets, patches and cards” in a scientific opinion published April 12, 2013. The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing aids (CEF) concluded that those iron- based oxygen absorbers were safe for food contact, and could be used in the headspace of packaging as well as in direct contact with non-liquid foods other than those with an aqueous liquid surface phase.

Except for activated carbon, all of the above mentioned substances were evaluated. According to CEF, activated carbon meets the specifications of already authorized activated charcoal. Iron is the main active ingredient of the newly authorized inserts. Iron reacts with oxygen to form iron hydroxide and iron oxide, thereby removing oxygen from the primary packaging. Migration is thought to occur via the gaseous phase, but no volatiles from the active mixtures were detected. The request for evaluation was submitted by the UK Food Standards Agency.

Reference

EFSA (2013). “Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the active substances iron, sodium chloride, water, silica gel, activated carbon, monosodium glutamate, potassium acid tartrate, powdered cellulose, malic acid, chabazite, hydroxypropyl cellulose, potassium carbonate, sodium thiosulfate, propylene glycol, glycerin, polyethyleneglycol sorbitan monooleate, sodium propionate and clinoptilolite for use in food contact materials.” EFSA Journal 11(4):3155-3167.

Share