On January 12, 2016 the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavorings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) published a scientific opinion on the post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling processes ‘Sumilon Eco PET SARL’ and ‘ITD’. Both processes are based on the Starlinger IV+® technology and use washed and dried PET flakes from post-consumer PET containers containing no more than 5% PET from non-food applications. According to conducted challenge tests, both processes can ensure that migration of potential unknown contaminants into food does not exceed 0.1 µg/kg food. Therefore, the CEF Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the processes ‘ITD’ and ‘Sumilon Eco PET SARL’ is safe for use in bottles, and materials and articles, respectively. Recycled PET derived from both processes is safe for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. Trays made of recycled PET from process ‘Sumilon Eco PET SARL’ should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.
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CEF (January 12, 2016). “Safety assessment of the processes ‘Sumilon Eco PET SARL’ and ‘ITD’, based on Starlinger IV+® technology, used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.”
