Brussels, 06/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Asked by the European Commission for rapid advice on the risks arising from the migration of the substance 4-methylbenzophenone from packaging into certain breakfast cereals, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published an interim statement on 4 March, in which it says there are possible risks to children's health from high exposure to the substance. EFSA stresses, however, the need for more information, saying that lack of data prevent a full evaluation of the risk.
Riitta Maijala, EFSA Director of Risk Assessment, said: “Although the migration of
4-methylbenzophenone from packaging into foods is not desirable, only in the highest exposure scenario considered - regular consumption of products contaminated at the highest levels reported so far - could some children possibly be at risk. However, there are important limitations in our knowledge and understanding of 4-methylbenzophenone and further data and analysis would be needed to be able to fully assess its safety.”
Due to the lack of data available, EFSA was not able to fully assess consumer exposure to
4-methylbenzophenone or its toxicological effects in humans. However, given its chemical structure and toxicity studies on benzophenone, EFSA concluded that 4-methylbenzophenone is likely to be a carcinogen but should not raise concerns with regard to genotoxicity (i.e. should not cause damage to DNA, the genetic material of cells).
EFSA plans to review the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for benzophenone and hydroxybenzophenone by the end of May 2009. (A.N./transl.rt)