20 February 2009 - A Belgian manufacturer of chocolate crunch muesli has alerted the Belgian Food Safety Agency (FAVV-AFSCA) that a German customer discovered that 4-methylbenzophenone, a chemical substance that can be found in ink, had migrated from the outside cardboard box to the food product inside.
According to the Belgian food producer, the packaging was manufactured in the Netherlands and has been widely distributed in the European Union. The German company informed the European Commission of its findings on 3 February 2009.
The 4-methylbenzophenone levels found by the German customer in the food product amounted to 798 μg/kg - ppb. It is understood that 4-methylbenzophenone levels in the food vary depending on the quality of inner packaging layers.
Not much information is available on the toxicity of Methylbenzophenone in humans. The University of Oxford's chemistry department though believes that the substance can be eye, skin and respiratory irritant.
The Belgian firm told FAVV-AFSCA that it has quarantined all remaining consignments of cardboard box-packaged chocolate crunch muesli.
FAVV-AFSCA's consequent investigation found out that seven other Belgian food producers used the Dutch-made cardboard boxes. The authority is currently testing the products of these manufacturers.
It is also understood that the seven other member states are concerned by this problem.
Last week EFSA experts gathered to urgently respond to the situation and are preparing an emergency risk evaluation report, which is expected to be issued in early March.