UV/EB Inks - Take a Sigh of Relief
October 2005
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RadTech is moving toward making sure UV/EB inks are safe for use in food packaging. Is everyone ready for what this may bring?
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT a fast-paced world it is out there. e-mail has made written communications instantaneous, credit cards have made spending money (you don't have) easier than ever, and some cars are now built to cruise at 180 mph. One other technology that seems to have been developed to save people time is the inception of prepackaged food stuffs. Consumers can quickly grab a packet of rice or noodles from their pantry and have a quick meal in minutes. But is all of the new technology safe?
Criminals can steal your information from your e-mails or credit cards, and driving too fast over the speed limit can amount to a nice big fine, and a hearing in front of a judge. But, should people really be worried they are hurting themselves when eating a quick meal?
No, says The RadTech Food Packaging Alliance, a self-funded group that is working toward making sure the use of ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) materials in food packaging is safe for the consumer. "We use UV/EB inks all the time in food packaging, like in cereal boxes, but always on the outside of the package because there is no migration of the chemicals," said Dr. Ron Golden, chair of the Food Packaging Alliance. "What we are currently working on now is getting FDA approval for the use of these inks with contact to food."
What they are doing
UV and EB inks are already in use with food packaging, and it is growing and will continue to grow at an astonishing rate. Ink makers want their inks purchased for more and more different applications, and that is just what the Food Packaging Alliance is working toward. "We are the catalyst to expand the use of UV/EB materials in food packaging. We have about 35 companies participating with us to make sure this happens," said Golden.
Currently, Golden, the Food Packaging Alliance and the 35 ink companies are working to establish a baseline for what the FDA will accept in designing UV/EB formulations for food packaging. But why? Why go through all of the work trying to make it safe for the use of UV/EB inks in food packaging? Why not just use another ink? Because UV and EB inks offer capabilities that others cannot.
EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT a fast-paced world it is out there. e-mail has made written communications instantaneous, credit cards have made spending money (you don't have) easier than ever, and some cars are now built to cruise at 180 mph. One other technology that seems to have been developed to save people time is the inception of prepackaged food stuffs. Consumers can quickly grab a packet of rice or noodles from their pantry and have a quick meal in minutes. But is all of the new technology safe?
Criminals can steal your information from your e-mails or credit cards, and driving too fast over the speed limit can amount to a nice big fine, and a hearing in front of a judge. But, should people really be worried they are hurting themselves when eating a quick meal?
No, says The RadTech Food Packaging Alliance, a self-funded group that is working toward making sure the use of ultraviolet (UV) and electron beam (EB) materials in food packaging is safe for the consumer. "We use UV/EB inks all the time in food packaging, like in cereal boxes, but always on the outside of the package because there is no migration of the chemicals," said Dr. Ron Golden, chair of the Food Packaging Alliance. "What we are currently working on now is getting FDA approval for the use of these inks with contact to food."
What they are doing
UV and EB inks are already in use with food packaging, and it is growing and will continue to grow at an astonishing rate. Ink makers want their inks purchased for more and more different applications, and that is just what the Food Packaging Alliance is working toward. "We are the catalyst to expand the use of UV/EB materials in food packaging. We have about 35 companies participating with us to make sure this happens," said Golden.
Currently, Golden, the Food Packaging Alliance and the 35 ink companies are working to establish a baseline for what the FDA will accept in designing UV/EB formulations for food packaging. But why? Why go through all of the work trying to make it safe for the use of UV/EB inks in food packaging? Why not just use another ink? Because UV and EB inks offer capabilities that others cannot.
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