Test: Unwanted chemicals in colorful foodpackaging

Coffee cups, paper straws and pick-and-choose candy bags may contain suspected carcinogens. The problematic substances come from the colorful print on the packaging and can migrate to the food.

Unwanted substances can be released from colorful prints on disposable packaging - for example paper straws, paper bags for pick-and-choose candy and coffee cups.

20 different disposable food packaging products from the Danish market have been tested for selected problematic substances. All tested products were of cardboard or paper and with colorful printing.

In 4 cases the test showed that the products contained substances suspected to be carcinogenic.

The problematic substances are called primary aromatic amines. They typically originate from the printing inks on the packaging.

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