Lids on glass jars containing food under suspicion

Following an investigation by the consumer group Choice into foods in glass jars, food giant Heinz has withdrawn two baby food products from the Australian market.

Choice tested 25 foods in glass jars and found 13 contained the plastic-softening chemicals epoxidised soybean oil (ESBO) or phthalates which had contaminated the food.

The chemicals were found to be present at levels that exceed the limits set by the European Union.

Choice says Australian food regulations do not set limits for these chemicals and while there is no immediate risk to health, long term effects cannot be guaranteed.

The plastic-softening chemical has been linked to liver conditions, genital defects and allergies in children.

According to the consumer group, Leggo's and Always Fresh are now demanding explanations from their suppliers.

One product tested revealed 230 times the level considered safe under the European Union standard of nine parts per million for adults and 1.5 parts per million for children.

Australia has no standard mandating a safe level for plasticisers, which include a range of phthalates and epoxidised soybean oil.

Heinz says testing showed the fat content of it's babies range of Globetrotters Butter Chicken and Delights Lemon Crème, which have now been voluntarily withdrawn, could have caused the ESBO from the jars' seals to migrate to the contents.

The lids on the glass jars involved have a PVC gasket which fits against the glass and forms the seal and it is the seal which contains the plasticisers; the seal protects the food inside from harmful bacteria.

Heinz is now looking into a viable alternative to the current lids in order to ensure that all of their food products remain as pure as possible.

Recent research has raised health issues regarding the use of plasticisers in a number of products because of the high residues found in babies' bottles and toys.

Choice says the long-term health implications of plasticisers migrating into foods is a serious problem which needs to be rectified by Australian regulators and says the food industry needs to find safe alternatives to ESBO and phthalates.

Though the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) says preliminary risk assessments on plasticides had concluded that consumption of foods affected was unlikely to pose a health risk, they are now reviewing their approach to regulating food packaging materials.