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Health assessment of food contact materials

PET bottles, cardboard packaging or aluminium foils - BfR informs about possible risks of materials and in particular their ingredients which come into contact with food. Special recommendations for the manufacturers of packaging materials are included in a dedicated database.

Packaging materials can contain substances which can result in health risks if they are released and absorbed by consumers through foods.

At BfR Unit 74 (Safety of Food-Contact Materials) assesses the health risk of these substance transfers.

BfR has published and compiled a series of opinions and reports on such materials.

Examples include

Further opinions are listed under the heading "Opinion" at the bottom of this page.

Basic requirements

In accordance with the applicable statutory framework provisions, food contact materials may not release any substances in normal or foreseeable uses which,

  • Constitute a health risk to consumers,
  • Lead to an unacceptable change in the composition of the food or
  • Impair foods in terms of odour, taste, texture or appearance (so called organoleptic properties).

Specific legally binding provisions currently exist, for instance, for plastics.

BfR-Recommendations

In a free-of-charge database BfR publishes recommendations for the production of materials which are not subject to any statutory provisions: "Database BfR Recommendations on Food Contact Materials".

Manufacturers can submit an application to BfR for the inclusion of certain substances into the recommendations. More detailed information, references to the current legal situation and contacts on this topic can be found on an info page.

Apart from recommendations on the use of certain substances, the database also includes information on test methods, for instance for materials which are used in the production of paper, carton and cardboard. With these methods, manufacturers can check whether the materials used by them qualify for food contact.

Legal bases

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Opinion

 (28)
Date Title Size
19.04.2023
BfR Opinion No 018/2023
Bisphenol A: BfR proposes health based guidance value, current exposure data are needed for a full risk assessment 1.6 MB
PDF-File
21.09.2020
Opinion No 043/2020 of the BfR
Ceramic crockery: BfR recommends lower release of lead and cadmium 592.8 KB
PDF-File
25.11.2019
Opinion No. 046/2019 of BfR
Fillable articles made from melamine formaldehyde resin, such as coffee-to-go cups sold as 'bambooware', may leak harmful substances into hot foods 1.6 MB
PDF-File
18.11.2019
BfR Opinion No 045/2019
Reducing aluminium intake can minimise potential health risks 174.3 KB
PDF-File
17.09.2019
BfR Opinion No. 036/2019
Polyamide Kitchen Utensils: Keep contact with hot food as brief as possible 427.7 KB
PDF-File
26.07.2018
BfR Opinion No 024/2018
Release of metals from enamel-coated grill racks: Several give off too much 23.6 KB
PDF-File
30.05.2018
BfR Opinion No. 014/2018
Polyamide oligomers: plastic components from kitchenware 183.2 KB
PDF-File
29.05.2017
BfR Opinion No 007/2017
Uncoated aluminium menu trays: First research results show high release of aluminium ions 100.5 KB
PDF-File
10.08.2016
BfR Opinion No. 023/2016
Levels of styrene oligomers measured in food simulants show that health risks are unlikely 30.7 KB
PDF-File
15.04.2016
BfR opinion 022/2016
Epoxide resin coatings of cans: substance transfer to oil-containing foods possible 23.7 KB
PDF-File
24.07.2013
BfR Opinion Nr. 021/2014
Primary aromatic amines from printed food contact materials such as napkins or bakery bags 86.6 KB
PDF-File
12.02.2013
BfR Opinion No. 005/2013
BfR removes anthraquinone from its list of recommendations for food packaging 70.7 KB
PDF-File
02.08.2011
Updated BfR Opinion No. 034/2011
Organotin compounds in consumer Products 33.6 KB
PDF-File
09.03.2011
Opinion No. 012/2011 of BfR
Release of melamine and formaldehyde from dishes and kitchen utensils 61.6 KB
PDF-File
02.02.2011
BfR Opinion Nr. 007/2011
BfR assesses analyses of substances with hormone-like activity in natural mineral waters 28.1 KB
PDF-File
29.07.2010
BfR Opinion Nr. 035/2010
Bisphenol A: Studies by Stump et al. (2010) and Ryan et al. (2010) provide no indications for adverse effects on neurological development and behaviour 281.7 KB
PDF-File
09.12.2009
BfR Opinion No. 008/2010
Migration of mineral oil from packaging materials to foodstuffs 27.3 KB
PDF-File
18.08.2009
BfR Opinion No. 038/2009
Limit values for phenol in food-contact articles and toys are to be updated 79.7 KB
PDF-File
12.06.2009
BfR Opinion No. 031/2009
BfR supports ban on triclosan in food contact materials 27.5 KB
PDF-File
03.07.2008
BfR Opinion No. 001/2009
The data situation for the assessment of the use of nanotechnology in food and food-contact articles is still not satisfactory 30.3 KB
PDF-File
18.06.2008
BfR Health Assessment No. 034/2008
Aluminium in apple juice: no storing of fruit juice in aluminium tanks 30.8 KB
PDF-File
02.04.2008
BfR Opinion No. 028/2008
Replacement of isopropyl thioxanthone (ITX) in printing inks by non-assessed substances is not appropriate 28.9 KB
PDF-File
25.03.2008
BfR Opinion No. 008/2009
BfR assesses research results of samples of mineral water with hormone-like effects 30.0 KB
PDF-File
22.07.2007
Updated BfR Health Assesment No. 033/2007
No risk of Alzheimer's disease from aluminium in consumer products 61.8 KB
PDF-File
27.09.2006
BfR Expert Opinion No. 001/2007
Allergies caused by consumer products and foods 344.8 KB
PDF-File
25.11.2005
BfR Expert Opinion No. 044/2005
Constituents of printing inks in beverages from cartons 35.9 KB
PDF-File
20.07.2004
BfR Opinion
2-Ethylhexanoic acid in baby food and fruit juices packed in glass containers 67.0 KB
PDF-File
15.10.2003
Supplementary opinion of BfR
Semicarbazide in foods 17.0 KB
PDF-File

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