Nanotechnology in Food & Agriculture - denix

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10 contain manufactured nanomaterial ingredients and additives are not the stuff of science fiction but are already found on supermarket shelves. Secrecy surrounds the commercial use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials by the food industry. Food manufacturers’ reluctance to discuss their use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials is made worse by the absence of labelling laws that require manufacturers to identify nanofoods. This makes it impossible to Table 1: Examples of the current use of nanomaterials in agriculture, foods and food packaging (see Appendix A for a complete referenced list) Type of product Product name and manufacturer Nutritional supplement Nanoceuticals ‘mycrohydrin’ powder, RBC Lifesciences Nutritional drink Oat Chocolate Nutritional Drink Mix, Toddler Health Food contact material (cooking equipment) Food contact material (crockery) Food contact material (kitchenware) | NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD & AGRICULTURE Nano silver cutting board, A-Do Global Nano silver baby mug, Baby Dream Antibacterial kitchenware, Nanocaretech/NCT Food packaging Adhesive for McDonald’s burger containers, Ecosynthetix Food packaging Durethan® KU 2-2601 plastic wrapping, Bayer Food additive Aquasol preservative, AquaNova know for sure whether or not a given product contains nano-ingredients. Estimates of commercially available nanofoods vary widely; nanotechnology analysts estimate that between 150- 600 nanofoods and 400-500 nano food packaging applications are already on the market (Cientifica 2006; Daniells 2007; Helmut Kaiser Consultancy Group 2007a; Helmut Kaiser Consultancy Group 2007b; Reynolds 2007). Nano content Purpose Molecular cages 1-5 nm diameter made from silicamineral hydride complex 300nm particles of iron (SunActive Fe) Nano-sized mycrohydrin has increased potency and bioavailability. Exposure to moisture releases H- ions and acts as a powerful antioxidant. Nano-sized iron particles have increased reactivity and bioavailability. Nanoparticles of silver Nano-sized silver particles have increased antibacterial properties. Nanoparticles of silver Nano-sized silver particles have increased antibacterial properties. Nanoparticles of silver Nano-sized silver particles have increased antibacterial properties. 50-150nm starch nanospheres Nanoparticles of silica in a polymer-based nanocomposite Nanoscale micelle (capsule) of lipophilic or water insoluble substances These nanoparticles have 400 times the surface area of natural starch particles. When used as an adhesive they require less water and thus less time and energy to dry. Nanoparticles of silica in the plastic prevent the penetration of oxygen and gas of the wrapping, extending the product’s shelf life. Surrounding active ingredients within soluble nanocapsules increases absorption within the body (including individual cells). Plant growth treatment PrimoMaxx, Syngenta 100nm particle size emulsion Using nano-sized particles increases the potency of active ingredients, potentially reducing the quantity to be applied.
Appendix A contains a list of 104 commercially available foods, nutritional supplements, food contact materials like storage containers and chopping boards, and agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, plant growth treatments and chemical fertilisers that contain manufactured nanomaterials (Table 1 provides a few examples). Given the reluctance of food manufacturers to discuss their use of nanotechnology (Shelke 2006), it appears likely that our list represents only a small fraction of commercially available products that contain nanomaterials. Table 2: A selection of major food and agriculture companies engaged in nanotechnology research and development (ETC Group 2004; Innovest 2006; Renton 2006; Wolfe 2005). Company Altria (Kraft Foods) Associated British Foods Ajinomoto BASF Bayer Cadbury Schweppes Campbell Soup Cargill DuPont Food Industry Solutions General Mills Glaxo-SmithKline Goodman Fielder Group Danone John Lust Group Plc H.J. Heinz Hershey Foods La Doria Maruha McCain Foods Mars, Inc. Nestlé Northern Foods Nichirei Nippon Suisan Kaisha PepsiCo Sara Lee Syngenta Unilever United Foods Note: For display purpose companies are listed in alphabetical order. Friends of the Earth Many more nanofood products are in development. By 2010 it is estimated that sales of nanofoods will be worth almost US$6 billion (Cientifica 2006). Many of the world’s largest food companies, including Heinz, Nestlé, Unilever and Kraft, are exploring nanotechnology for food processing and packaging. Many of the world’s largest agrochemicals and seed companies also have active nanotechnology research and development programs (Table 2). Nanotechnology has potential applications in all aspects of agriculture, food processing, food packaging and even farm and food monitoring: • Methods to enable foods such as soft drinks, ice cream, chocolate or chips to be marketed as ‘health’ foods by reducing fat, carbohydrate or calorie content or by increasing protein, fibre or vitamin content. • Production of stronger flavourings, colourings, and nutritional additives, and processing aids to increase the pace of manufacturing and to lower costs of ingredients and processing. • Development of foods capable of changing their colour, flavour or nutritional properties according to a person’s dietary needs, allergies or taste preferences (high on the research agenda of food giants including Kraft and Nestlé). • Packaging to increase food shelf life by detecting spoilage, bacteria, or the loss of food nutrient, and to release antimicrobials, flavours, colours or nutritional supplements in response. • Re-formulation of on-farm inputs to produce more potent fertilisers, plant growth treatments and pesticides that respond to specific conditions or targets. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD & AGRICULTURE | 11
Page 1 and 2: OUT OF THE LABORATORY AND ONTO OUR
Page 3: OUT OF THE LABORATORY AND ONTO OUR
Page 6 and 7: 2 Executive Summary In the absence
Page 8 and 9: 4 A short introduction to nanotechn
Page 10 and 11: 6 each new nanomaterial must be sub
Page 12 and 13: 8 than 100nm. However given the evi
Page 16 and 17: 12 Nanotechnology and food processi
Page 18 and 19: 14 ingredients delivers greater bio
Page 20 and 21: 16 Table 3: Examples of chemical re
Page 22 and 23: 18 Table 6: Development of nano-com
Page 24 and 25: 20 Table 7: Nano agrochemicals unde
Page 26 and 27: 22 Nanofoods and nano agrochemicals
Page 28 and 29: 24 microparticles can be taken up t
Page 30 and 31: 26 has warned that safety regulator
Page 32 and 33: 28 amounts of a toxin, but also be
Page 34 and 35: 30 in packaging films designed to e
Page 36 and 37: 32 Time to choose sustainable food
Page 38 and 39: 34 requirements, but increase capit
Page 40 and 41: 36 University has confirmed that, c
Page 42 and 43: 38 (Section 8.3.2: paragraphs 18 &
Page 44 and 45: 40 nano form in food ingredients, a
Page 46 and 47: 42 product is considered safe. This
Page 48 and 49: 44 The right to say no to nanofoods
Page 50 and 51: 46 Recommendations for sustainable
Page 52 and 53: 48 for the food sector. Demand that
Page 54 and 55: Appendix A 50 Appendix A: List of a
Page 56 and 57: Table 3: Nanomaterials in kitchen e
Page 58 and 59: Table 4: Nanomaterials in foods and
Page 60 and 61: 56 Table 6: Nanomaterials in food/
Page 62 and 63: 58 REFERENCES Acello R. 2007. EPA r
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60 Thamnocephalus platyurus. Chemos
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62 Australia March 2007. Available
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