Speciality chemicals manufacturer Lanxess (Leverkusen / Germany; www.lanxess.com) says it is hopeful that the European Commission will officially approve its phthalate-free plasticiser "Mesamoll II“ for food contact applications by autumn this year. In a scientific opinion published at the end of last year, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA; www.efsa.europa.eu) said alkyl(C10-C21)sulfonic acid – the chemical component of Mesamoll II – did not pose a risk to humans when used to manufacture toys or both dry and water-based food packaging applications.

Once the official approval has been granted, Mesamoll II will join the small list of plasticisers suitable for use in food packaging in both the EU and the US, where the Federal Drug Administration (FDA; www.fda.gov) had already approved the plasticiser in 2007 – see Plasteurope.com of 22.02.2007. In addition, Lanxess says, the approval would have a positive effect on the plasticiser's use in toys. In the wake of numerous call-backs of products containing what were deemed harmful plasticisers, the western toy industry especially is increasingly looking for safer alternatives – including plasticisers approved for food contact.

Lanxess says Mesamoll II has a rapid gelling behaviour that ensures low processing temperatures and times, a high resistance to light and saponification, and high weatherability. As part of its evaluation, the EFSA determined that alkyl(C10-C21)sulfonic acid is harmless in all products where migration does not exceed 0.05mg/kg of foodstuff and provided there is no contact with fatty foods.