Saint-Gobain tackles phthalate fears

The firm has launched such tubing for a number of applications, including specialist beverage, food and pressure processes.

In this exclusive interview at trade show Pack Expo 2012 in Chicago, Iuliana Nita, Saint-Gobain's newly appointed marketing manager for food and beverage fluid systems, explains why phthalates are such an industry issue.

Phthalates are a well-known food contact material, which studies suggest can migrate to contaminate food substances, albeit in small quantities. Studies have linked them to a range of food safety issues, including disruption of hormone excretion, which some scientists claim can contribute to the development of some forms of cancer.

EU plastics legislation enforced on July 1, 2008 set tolerable daily intake limits for the substances. The US Food & Drug Administration set similar limits in 2011.

Since then, Nita told this website, many European food and drink manufacturers had been pressing to reduce the amount of materials they used containing phthalates. In some cases they were aiming to eliminate phthalate use altogether, she said.