Pizza boxes in the news - DIBP concerns

Pizza boxes are in the news again, this time because of concerns that those manufactured with recycled paper may contain di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP). In the Telegraph.co.uk article, it is stated that, 'According to the Food Standards Agency [DIBP] may have a harmful affect on human reproductive development because they have been reported to be endocrine (hormone) disrupters.'

That there is some DIBP in certain types of paper is not questioned, after all, scientists in the home of the pizza (University of Milan) found traces of DIBP in boxes from 16 different restaurants in northern Italy. One box contained more than 70 micrograms, and several had more than 40 micrograms.

DIBP can originate from the inks (certain printing processes), glues and colourants found in certain grades of recycled paper and board.

So what is the exposure and risk to human health? Probably very little. There is an ongoing debate as to whether packaging used in contact with food should be made for virgin rather than recycled paper as the latter often contains chemicals which have not been tested and approved for food contact use. Countries rich in wood fibre (eg Finland) usually argue the case for using virgin fibre, whereas those with larger populations and an abundance of recycled fibre have an interest in using recycled fibre (eg France) in packaging paper and board.

The pizza box has also been in the news for containing PFOS and PFOA, the harmful by-products found in many fluorochemicals used to give grease resistance. Pizza box manufacturers have made big strides to stop the use of these fluorochemicals but suppliers are still offering the products to the industry for food-contact use.