UK food safety agencies advise against ocean-bound plastic in food packaging
The UK FSA and Food Standards Scotland advise against using recycled ocean-bound plastic in food packaging, citing insufficient safety evidence.
Source: Food Standards Agency (UK), 8 May 2025.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland advise businesses not to use abandoned environmental plastic, including ocean-bound plastic, in food packaging. The agencies said the evidence reviewed was insufficient to establish its safety for food-contact applications.
Why the source of recycled plastic matters
The advice follows an assessment by the Joint Expert Group for Food Contact Materials. Material recovered from open environments can have an uncertain history, making it harder to establish the contamination controls needed for food-contact uses. The assessment considered applications including packaging for meat, poultry and fish.
The FSA distinguishes this material from recycled plastic collected through controlled systems, such as established household collection schemes. Its advice does not apply to that controlled-source material; suitability for a particular food-contact use must still be established under applicable requirements.
What this means for food businesses
Food brands, packaging converters and suppliers should review the origin and traceability of recycled inputs, confirm the intended food-contact application, and obtain the relevant safety and compliance documentation. Environmental claims and food-safety suitability should be assessed separately.
For food packaging solutions, contact Herris to discuss the product, material structure and intended processing conditions.
