UK: Science and Technology Committee - Nanotechnologies and Food

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee have criticises the food industry for failing to be transparent about its research into the uses of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials. In their report, Nanotechnologies and Food, the Committee notes that transparency and honesty are key components for ensuring public trust in both food safety and scientific developments, and argue that the approach of food companies in not publishing or discussing details of its research in this area is unhelpful. The Committee acknowledges that the food industry is right to be concerned about negative public reactions to developments in nanotechnologies but asserts that appearing to be secretive about its research “is exactly the type of behaviour which may bring about the public reaction it is trying to avert.”

The Committee also urges the Government and Research Councils to adequately fund research into potential health and safety risks arising from the use of nanomaterials in the food sector, and states that the Government should ensure that research is commissioned which focuses specifically on the behaviour of nanomaterials within the body and particularly the gut. The report recommends that the Food Standards Agency should contribute to consumer confidence in the use of nanomaterials in food by maintaining a publicly available register of food and food packaging containing nanomaterials. The Committee calls for nanomaterials to be defined clearly in food legislation to ensure that all uses of nanomaterials in food are subject to appropriate risk assessment procedures, and also raises concerns about the potential for the illegal importation of food products containing nanomaterials not approved for use in food in the EU. The report is available here

The Soil Association banned the use of man-made nanomaterials from all Soil Association certified organic products as of January 2008 already, as the first organisation in the world to take action against technology that poses a serious new threat to human health.