Talk:Nanotechnology in Food
Contents
Uses
In Food
A 2014 report by the Friends of the Earth found "a tenfold increase in unregulated, unlabeled “nanofood” products on the American market since 2008."[1] As reported in Mother Jones, foods now found to contain nanoparticles "include Dannon Greek Plain Yogurt, Silk Original Soy Milk, Rice Dream Rice Drink, Hershey's Bliss Dark Chocolate, and Kraft's iconic American Cheese Singles."[2]
Safety
Concerns about workplace exposure
Exposure to ultrafine particulate matter may pose a threat to the health of workers in sites where nanotechnology is being used. For example, ultra-fine titanium dioxide (TiO2) powder, including engineered nano-scale TiO2, is used as a whitening agent in many products. A 2011 CDC report found that "exposure to ultrafine TiO2 should be considered a potential occupational carcinogen" due to its higher potency per unit of mass compared to larger particles.[3]
Regulation of Nanotech in Food
In April 2012, the US FDA issued draft guidance documents for considering the safety of food containing or made using nanotechnology.[4] A year and a half later, Mother Jones noted that the FDA "both 1) acknowledges that nanoparticles pose risks that are substantially different from those of their regular-sized counterparts, and 2) has done nothing to slow down their rapid move into the food supply."[2]
- ↑ Friends of the Earth, "New report: Tiny ingredients, big risks," May 21, 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tom Philpott, "Big Dairy Is Putting Microscopic Pieces of Metal in Your Food," Mother Jones, May 28, 2014. Accessed May 28, 2014.
- ↑ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Current Intelligence Bulletin 63: Occupational Exposure to Titanium Dioxide," April 2011. Accessed May 28, 2014.
- ↑ FDA, "Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information," April 2014. Accessed May 28, 2014.
