Recycled Food Packaging May Pose Health Risks

Recycled Food Packaging May Pose Health Risks

European food manufacturers are considering changes to food packaging after Swiss researchers announced that mineral oils found in recycled food containers may pose health risks. Mineral oils are liquid by-products of petroleum processing and are commonly used in newspaper ink. Newspapers are often recycled to make packages for dry food products such as cereal, rice, pasta, and those oils could easily get absorbed into foods unless a protective barrier – thick plastic bags or aluminum foil – is in place. The concern with mineral oil is that excessive exposure has been associated with inflammation of internal organs and cancer in laboratory animals. According to a spokesperson from the Food Safety Laboratory of Switzerland, "One meal has no real effect on health. It is a matter of long-term exposure." As reported by the BBC, British-based cereal marker Jordans has stopped using recycled cardboard, and other manufacturers are moving to packaging that doesn't contain recycled newspaper. Health Canada packaging guidelines already demand vegetable-based inks in food packaging. According to the BBC, the Kellogg's and Weetabix companies are taking steps to reduce the amount of mineral oil in their packaging. [via CBC and BBC]

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First Lupus Drug In 56 Years Approved

First Lupus Drug In 56 Years Approved

The U.S. FDA has approved the first new lupus drug in 56 years. The drug, Benlysta (belimumab), is an injection medication that has been shown to moderately relieve symptoms of the disease. Benlysta is an antibody which works on the immune system. Those treated with the medication had fewer lupus symptoms than those treated with placebo and the most common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, fever, and localized reactions at the injection site. Lupus is a potentially fatal autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, and nervous system. It also affects women more than men. Black women have the highest rates of lupus, followed by Asians, then white women. Ironically, the drug doesn't appear to work effectively in African-Americans, according to the FDA. [via Epoch Times]

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