Semicarbazide in foods
Semicarbazide (also referred to as SEMS) belongs to a family of
chemicals called hydrazines, and are a trace by-product of the process
used to manufacture soft plastic seals commonly used in twist-off metal
lids of glass jars and bottles of foods. This packing method is commonly
used for foods such as jams, honeys, sauces, ketchup, baby foods, fruit
juice, mayonnaise, mustard and pickles. These soft plastic seals have
been widely used for more than 20 years, providing a reliable air-tight
and tamper-proof seal.
Earlier this year low levels (up to 25 parts per billion) of
semicarbazide were found in food products packed using soft plastic
seals. Research to date indicates that semicarbazide is leaching from
the seals into the foods.
Semicarbazides and human health
Research is currently underway to establish if semicarbazides at the low
levels found in some foods is harmful to human health.
Semicarbazide has been found in animal studies to be weakly carcinogenic
(cancer-causing) and genotoxic (can cause birth deformities), but there
have been no studies on humans, so scientists cannot confirm this is, or
is not a risk to human health.
However, expert opinion across the globe, based on current knowledge
is that semicarbazides pose little, if any risk to human health-
The
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced on October 15th
a risk assessment, in light of knowledge to date as follows –
“Results are not conclusive. It is clear that semicarbazides are present
in certain foods in very small quantities. The risk to consumers, if
any, is judged by scientific experts to be very small, not only for
adults but also infants. EFSA’s scientific experts advise no change to
current dietary habits, consumers may continue to utilize all foods
concerned, including baby food
Similarly, the Australasian food safety agency, Food Standards Australia
and New Zealand (FSANZ) in a statement issued on October 16th
comment –
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) believes that there is no
evidence to suggest a food safety concern for any consumers, including
infants, from the chemical semicarbazide
Eliminating semicarbazides from foodstuffs
Both
the food industry and national food safety agencies are agreed that
although any risk is likely to be small, it is prudent to eliminate all
traces of semicarbazide from the food supply. Experts also agree that
substitute packaging methods must provide the same levels of food safety
assurance as current methods provide, in addition to eliminating the
presence of semicarbazide.
Current glass jar and metal cap packaging offers very high levels of
protection against accidental or deliberate contamination of food by
insects, dust, dirt, chemicals, moulds and food poisoning bacteria. This
method of packaging also offers a high level of protection for
nutritional quality of food products, preservation of taste and texture,
and high degree of convenience and variety to consumers.
The
food packaging and food manufacturing industries, are actively working
to develop alternative packaging methods and/or materials.
Alternative packaging methods which have been fully tested for safety
and reliability are expected to become available within 6-12 months.
Recommendations to Consumers
The
special case of baby foods: Baby food packaged in glass jars are widely
used for reasons of convenience, quality and nutritional safety. For
this reason, and also because of concerns that infant’s consumption of
semicarbazides may be higher than other sectors of the population, the
EFSA expert ad-hoc group examined the risk to infants in the most
detail. Their conclusion was that any risk was very small and was
currently greatly outweighed by the obvious and immediate benefits of
glass jar with metal twist-off cap packaging.
Expert advice therefore is that there is no reason for consumers to
change their purchasing or shopping habits. This advice is extended to
both adult and children, including infants.
AFIC
will continue to monitor the situation and any significant updates on
current knowledge and understanding will be posted on the website.
References and More Information
European Food Safety Authority statement 15.10.03
http://www.efsa.eu.int/pdf/pressrel20031015_en.pdf
Food
Standards Australia New Zealand statement
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/factsheets/factsheets2003/semicar
bazideusedass2239.cfm
