Thursday 23 October, 2008

MEDIA RELEASE

96% OF PUBLIC WANT TESTS ON POTENTIALLY TOXIC FOOD ADDITIVES, POLL SAYS


A poll of 1,010 people released today shows more than 9 in 10 Australians want safety checks on potentially toxic tiny food additives called nanoparticles. The poll was commissioned by Friends of the Earth Australia (FoE) and carried out by Essential Research.

Georgia Miller, FoE nanotechnology project coordinator, said the poll showed there was overwhelming public support for precautionary management of nanofoods and mandatory labelling, and a reluctance to purchase nanofoods.

“The poll showed 96 per cent of Australians agree that food companies must conduct safety testing on food or food packaging ingredients that contain tiny synthetic objects called nanoparticles,” she said.

“Ninety two per cent of Australians also believe food companies should label food and food packaging that contain nanoparticles so customers can make an informed decision about whether or not they want to eat nanofoods or buy food in nano packaging.”

“Only 15 per cent of Australians said they would purchase foods containing manufactured nanoparticles, while 40 per cent said they would not purchase them at all”.

Test tube and animal studies have shown that some nanoscale forms of familiar substances are toxic to people and the environment, yet food companies are not required to conduct safety tests where ingredients have been approved for use in bulk form.

“It’s really disturbing that nanoparticles are already used in foods and food packaging without first being tested for safety risks. For example, internationally, nanoparticles can already be found in dairy products, soft drinks, processed foods and health supplements,” Ms Miller said.

“In Australia nanoparticles are found in confectionery packaging, bottle coatings and PET drink bottles, despite not having gone through a safety assessment.”

“There are major gaps in the knowledge necessary for nanoparticles risk assessment, something the Austrian Ministry of Health recognised in September this year when it called for a suspension of the sale of nanofoods in Europe until their safety could be guaranteed.”

“With such big risks, potentially hazardous nanofoods and nanoproducts in Australia should not be sold until the knowledge gaps are filled, new laws are introduced to ensure their safety and all nanoproducts are labelled so people know what they are buying.”

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has recently proposed new food safety laws whereby food companies will have to inform them if their products contain nanoparticles. Public feedback on these new standards needs to be submitted by 6pm, Wednesday 29 Oct 2008.


For interview: Georgia Miller on 0437 979 402 or (03) 6224 6794.

Media contact: Sacha Myers on 0417 017 844 or (03) 9341 8113

A copy of the research findings can be found here.