nanotechnologies and food discussion group minutes of the first

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Consumer Engagement
The FSA explained to the group that a series of nanotechnologies and food citizens
forums had been taking place since November 2010. The forums have been organised
by the FSA and TNS/BMRB as a tool to discuss policy work with consumers and
examine awareness and attitudes towards nanotechnologies and food. The forums are
designed very much to gain a qualitative insight into consumer attitudes towards
nanotechnologies rather than to produce hard statistics. The forums involved one
hundred people in England, and Scotland. Participants were recruited to reflect a mix of
race, age and socioeconomic backgrounds and are being conducted in three waves
(waves one and two are complete and wave three will take place in January/February).
Most people had never heard of nanotechnologies in relation to food but were more
aware of its use for other areas of technology e.g. nano iPods.
Consumers were interested to know why nanotechnologies are needed in food uses
and were better able to appreciate the potential benefits of nanotechnologies in relation
to food packaging than food itself. They were concerned about safety aspects of
nanotechnologies, particularly the long-term safety, and about the environmental
impact in relation to food packaging e.g. the use of plastic beer bottles with nanoclay
embedded in the plastic as a means of preventing beer spoilage.
The final wave of this research will look at what ethical issues there may be and any
wider implications that need to be considered. Consumers will then be in a better
position to provide a more reasoned argument about their views. It is expected that the
TNS/BMRB report on these forums will be published by mid March and the FSA will
enquire whether a representative is available to give a presentation at the next
discussion group meeting.
Action: FSA to ask TNS/BMRB to give a presentation to the discussion group.
EFSA’s guidance on the risk assessment of applications of nanoscience and
nanotechnologies to food and feed.
The FSA mentioned to the group that at the request of the European Commission,
EFSA’s Scientific Committee was producing practical guidance on the risk assessment
of applications of nanoscience and nanotechnologies to food and feed. The Scientific
Committee’s drafting group had prepared this draft guidance which was shortly
expected to go out to public consultation. This guidance builds on EFSA’s previous
opinion on nanotechnologies and food published in 2009, but is a more practical and
pragmatic document aimed at risk assessors and applicants. The guidance details the
approaches to risk assessment and appropriate testing methods to be used depending
on:
a. Whether a material is nano or not
b. If there is exposure to the nanomaterial e.g. migration into food.
c. If the nanoform has an already approved non nanoform of the material.
d. If the nanoform does not have an already approved nanoform of the material.
To note: EFSA’s draft guidance was published on 14 January 2011 for public
consultation.
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