Swiss government researchers found that mineral oils in printing inks from recycled newspapers can get into foods packaged in cartons made of recycled boxboard, even passing through liners, reports BBC News.

As a result, several food manufacturers in England are changing their packaging. Cereal firm Jordans has stopped using recycled board, and Kellogg’s and Weetabix said they were taking steps to reduce the amount of mineral oil in their packaging.

The Swiss researchers found quantities of mineral oils between 10 and 100 times above the agreed limit in foods like pasta, rice and cereals sold in cartons made from recycled board. Exposure to mineral oils has been linked to inflammation of internal organs and cancer.

In the U.S., mineral oils are not a problem, according to Deborah White, executive director of the Recycled Paperboard Technical Association, reports lifeslittlemysteries.com. “There is a real difference in that, in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets certain standards for mineral oils, and our recycling industry has a very rigorous program for mak- ing sure food packaging materials meet those standards. The European Union hasn’t yet established a safety level for these substances. The members of the Confederation of European Paper Industries are definitely looking into it.”

Certain mineral oils are permitted by the FDA for use in food packaging, White explained; they don’t all pose health risks. But dangerous hydrocarbons are not allowed to make their way into recycled materials sold in the U.S. According to White, “Dangerous mineral oils have never been found in U.S. recycled cardboard.”

Koni Grob, the lead researcher at the government-run food safety laboratory of the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, stressed that consumers would have to be exposed to contaminated foods over many years for their health to be at risk.

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents England’s food companies, said the Swiss study was “a good starting point for further investigations” – but not enough in itself to justify discontinuing the use of recycled board. None- theless, some of the individual members of the FDF are taking steps to change their packaging.

Kellogg’s says it’s working with its suppliers on new packag- ing “which allows us to meet our environmental commitments but will also contain significantly lower levels of mineral oil.” The company is also looking at alternative inner liners for its packets.

Grob’s studies suggest only aluminum-coated bags or those made of certain types of thick plastic are an effective barrier to the migration of mineral oils.

Weetabix said it uses 100 percent recycled board because it is better for the environment, but it is also looking at recycled packaging that does not contain recycled newspaper.

Like several other companies, it says, “Our data... does indicate that none of our products pose a risk to consumer health.” England’s Food Standards Agency is doing research of its own, but so far it is only looking at how much mineral oil there is in recycled packaging, not how much gets into the food inside. Terry Donohoe, the acting head of the FSA’s chemical safety division, says: “Should there be any evidence from our study – and we will carry out a risk assessment – we will take immediate action to protect the public.”