This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Aimplas recomienda no consumir menaje del hogar de plástico sin etiquetado correcto

Aimplas eat not tableware home to plastic without proper labelling

02/09/2011

September 2, 2011

The Technological Institute of plastics (Aimplas) recommends not to use products of tableware for the household in plastics that aren't correctly tagged because they may not be suitable for contact with food.

In the face of the summer holidays, which often make greater use of disposable tableware products intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, Aimplas recommends that the consumer pay close attention to the labelling and not consume those who do not comply with mandatory requirements established by law.

Explains Pedro Melgarejo, responsible for the Department of the entity containers, "products that are not properly labelled may be harmful to health if they come into contact with food, that we cannot know if they comply with food safety standards requiring these products".

So, remember that the correct labelling of tableware products that they be in contact with food must compulsorily collect the company name with the address full of the manufacturer or importer; the reference, name or trade name of the product; the codification of traceability; and the symbol of the Cup and the fork or the terms "use food" or "suitable for food contact, provided that its use is not predictable, i.e., you may have several uses, such as a tupper, that can also be used to keep other things than food".

It is also required on the label to appear the special instructions to be followed for a proper use of the product, such as "wash before use" or "use a maximum of times", among others. This also includes symbols of suitability for microwave, dishwasher or reuse.

Required information must be in materials and articles or their packaging, or on labels fixed in materials and articles or their packaging, or on a label that is in the immediate vicinity of the materials and articles and that is clearly visible to the consumer.

According to a study conducted by Aimplas and Avep (Valencian plastics entrepreneurs Association) on tableware products imported and purchased in supermarkets and stores multiprecio in the Valencian Community, 22% of the plastic tableware is not an indication of their suitability for food. In addition, 88% of the cases not mentioned in traceability, which is why there is no clear evidence that the substances used in their manufacture are legalized.

Other common errors in tagging are the lack of information on the conditions of use (71%), the reason social/CIF (24%) and the company importing (17%).