Open AccessSafety assessment of the substance isobutane, for use in food contact materials
Author(s) -
Silano Vittorio,
Bolognesi Claudia,
Chipman Kevin,
Cravedi JeanPierre,
Engel KarlHeinz,
Fowler Paul,
Franz Roland,
Grob Konrad,
Gürtler Rainer,
Husøy Trine,
Kärenlampi Sirpa,
Mennes Wim,
Milana Maria Rosaria,
Pfaff Karla,
Riviere Gilles,
Srinivasan Jannavi,
Tavares Poças Maria de Fátima,
Tlustos Christina,
Wölfle Detlef,
Zorn Holger,
KolfClauw Martine,
Lampi Eugenia,
Svensson Kettil,
Lioupis Alexandros,
Castle Laurence
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
efsa journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.076
H-Index - 97
ISSN - 1831-4732
DOI - 10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5116
Subject(s) - isobutane , food contact materials , food packaging , food spoilage , food science , environmental science , food safety , environmental chemistry , chemistry , waste management , organic chemistry , biology , bacteria , engineering , genetics , catalysis
Abstract The substance isobutane is intended to be used as a foaming agent at max 4.5% to produce expanded polystyrene (EPS) to be used for packaging foods, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, fish and cheese, at room temperature or lower. Isobutane is approved in Europe as a food additive (E 943b) to be used quantum satis as a gas propellant only in vegetable oil pan spray (for professional use only) and water‐based emulsion spray according to Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. The purity requirements for the use of isobutane as a food additive are described in Commission Regulation (EU) No 231/2012. The substance is a gas at room temperature. It is a saturated hydrocarbon, obtained with a high level of purity, and is not expected to react under the processing conditions used to make foamed polystyrene materials and articles. Data on migration of isobutane from trays at 20°C for 10 days ranged from 0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg food. Considering the intended applications, estimated exposure is extremely low based on migration data. In the absence of genotoxicity alerts and given the very low toxicity following repeated exposure with no observed adverse effect concentration (NOAEC) of several thousands of mg/m 3 by inhalation, it was considered that the use of isobutane as a foaming agent, at the expected exposure from food, does not raise a safety concern.