German safety authorities have seized tonnes of couscous from Italy that were contaminated after the chemical benzophenone leached from the packaging. Higher than permitted levels of the chemical were detected in 15,620 cartons of the foodstuff, according to the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL). Germany notified the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) that levels of the chemical reaching 1559 µg/mg had been detected in the couscous imported from Italy and the product was withdrawn.
Benzophenone and 4-methylbenzophenone (4-MBP) are used in food packaging as initiators for printing inks. they can migrate through the packaging to the food if there is no functional barrier.
The European Printing Ink Association and the European Carton Board Manufacturers have recommended to their members that printing inks containing 4-MBP and BP were not suitable for printing of food packaging unless a functional barrier is present that blocks the transfer into food. The European Commission’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health recommended that food contact materials printed with inks containing benzophenone or 4-MBP should not be brought in contact with foods unless the company could verify the migration into food was below 0.6 mg per kg food.