As You Sow: Health & Safety

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Nano Food

Friends of the Earth found that engineered nanomaterials are used in and in the production of over 100 food products and packaging worldwide.

Nanotechnology is being used in the manufacture of products such as nutritional supplements, cling wrap and containers, antibacterial kitchenware, processed meats, chocolate drinks, baby food, and chemicals used in agriculture.

There is great potential due to the novel properties of nanomaterials including as potent nutritional additives, stronger flavorings and colorings, or antibacterial ingredients for food packaging. However, nanomaterials may also result in greater toxicity risks for human health and the environment.

As You Sow’s position:
As You Sow recommends that companies do not use nanotechnology in food and food products until each individual technology has been proven safe in each of the contexts in which the product will be used.
This precautionary approach is critical for nanotechnology for the following reasons:

Due to the small size of particles, they can pass through the blood-brain barrier and get lodged in the brain
Engineered nanomaterials can pass into the placenta
Nano-sized particles react differently in different contexts – temperature, light, combinations – so a substance is not truly safe until it has been tested in all possible configurations
Regulatory agencies are not up-to-speed on nanotechnologies. In the US, there is only voluntary reporting on the use of nanomaterials while the EU recognizes that “there is a huge need for this research as some nanoparticles that are used in everyday products, such as paint and suntan cream, have never been properly tested.”

As You Sow’s actions on nanofood:
As You Sow filed the first shareholder resolutions on nanomaterials and food safety asking companies to report on their use of nanomaterials in their products and packaging. These resolutions were filed with Kraft and McDonald’s in 2008. As You Sow has been engaging both companies as well as Pepsi on its policies and programs for nanomaterials. At present, all three companies are not using nanomaterials in their food products or packaging.