Nanotechnology and Food
In brief
- While the common use of the term ‘nanotechnology’ may be new, food is naturally and traditionally made up of nanometre scale particles and humans have been exposed to nanometre scale particles since their existence.
- All new food substances have to undergo a comprehensive scientific safety assessment under the applicable Food Standard before they can be legally supplied in Australia and New Zealand. The provisions of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code) are enforced in Australia by the food regulatory agencies in the States and Territories and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, and in New Zealand, by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
- Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) will not approve unsafe food regardless of the technology used to produce it.
About the term nanometre
The term nanometre refers to a measure of distance that is very small. A nanometre (nm) is one thousand millionth of a metre (10-9 of a metre) - this is well beyond what the human eye can see even through a microscope. A human hair or the thickness of a piece of paper, is around 100,000 nanometres. On a relative scale, if a marble was one nanometre in diameter, a metre would be the size of the earth!
The terms ‘nanoparticle’ or ‘ultra fine particle’ refers to extremely small particles of matter in the nanometre scale. The term nanotechnology can also be applied to emulsions (nano-emulsions) and tiny capsules (nano-capsules).
What is nanotechnology?
While there is no internationally agreed definition for ‘nanotechnology’, the term is usually applied to the process of controlling the size and shape of materials at the atomic and molecular scale. Generally, the term applies to deliberately engineered matter less than 100 nanometres (nm) in size in one dimension. At this size, particles are much smaller than human cells and even bacteria and viruses.
Is nanotechnology new?
No. The term ‘nanotechnology’ has become more widely used in recent years but developments in a variety of scientific fields have been going on for decades. Developments across fields such as physics, materials science, surface and colloid chemistry, chemical biological and electrical engineering have all contributed. Advances in scientific instrumentation have also enabled the imaging and manipulation of matter at the nanometre scale.
Is nanotechnology only relevant to food?
No. Nanotechnology holds most promising applications in other fields such as medicine, electronics, materials science and solar energy. Within Australia, the emergence of commercial applications for nanotechnology is being monitored by several Australian Government agencies. FSANZ is one agency working within the whole of government framework. An Inter-Departmental Committee led by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research has been convened to coordinate a national approach to nanotechnology. FSANZ is also an active participant in a Health, Safety and Environment Working Group under the Inter-Departmental Committee that is examining issues such as the possible toxicity risks for human health and the environment.
In New Zealand FSANZ participates in an intergovernmental nanotechnology regulators group which is considering regulatory approaches to nanomaterials in foods, consumer products, the environment, medicines and other applications.
Is consumption of small particles new?
No. Food and drinking water naturally comprises particles in the nanometre scale. Throughout their existence, humans have been exposed to ultrafine and nanometre scale particles such as smoke, dust, ash, and fine clays through the air, food and water. Humans inhale and ingest many millions of organic and inorganic nanoscale particles every day in their food and drinking water and it is estimated that people inhale around 10 million nanometre scale particles in every breath. Many ancient cultures, as well as animals, have deliberately sought and consumed fine clays of volcanic origin to remove the naturally occurring toxins from food and water.
Food consists of small particles of matter. Generally, proteins in foods are globular structures 1-10 nanometres (nm) in size and the majority of polysaccharides (carbohydrates) and lipids (fats) are linear polymers with thicknesses in the nanometre range.
Milk is an example of an emulsion of fine fat droplets of nanoscale proportions. Traditional processing of milk such as pasteurisation and curdling is known to change the size of particles reducing them in size or causing them to agglomerate (join together into larger particles).
Are smaller particles in food unsafe?
The human body is well adapted to dealing with a wide range of foods and contaminants of highly variable composition. The gastrointestinal tract is equipped to break down and dissolve foods as much as possible in order to absorb the nutrients and derive the energy necessary to run our bodies and sustain life. Acids and enzymes present in our mouth and stomach play a significant role in the digestive process and generally, the more food is able to be broken down and dissolved, the more nutrients are able to be absorbed by our bodies.
At FSANZ we recognises that very small particles of matter can behave differently to larger particles of even the same matter and that care does need to be taken to ensure that small particles in food are just as safe as larger particles. The size of particles in food however, is only one of a number of considerations relevant to ensuring the safety of food. When FSANZ assesses the safety of food or foood ingredients, we examine a wide range of scientific evidence to establish that it is safe to eat.
How can nanotechnology be used in food?
Traditional foods already incorporate nanoscale particles, however advances in the field of nanotechnology are very likely to give rise to other applications in food. For example, nanotechnology could be used to produce cheap and highly effective filters to eliminate contaminants and bacteria from water for drinking. This would be of enormous benefit to millions of people who do not have reliable access to safe drinking water. Food packaging could also be developed using nanotechnology to absorb oxygen in the air that enters the package in order to help prevent harmful bacteria growing in the food.
Are nanotechnology foods available in Australia and New Zealand?
Aside from traditional foods containing nanoscale particles, FSANZ has not received any applications to approve any new type of engineered nanoscale particles for food use. We will continue to actively monitor the food supply and gather information from all relevant sources, particularly other Australian and New Zealand government agencies and enforcement bodies, industry, non-government organisations and our regulatory partner agencies around the world.
Are there regulations to ensure foods using nanotechnology are safe?
All food supplied in Australia and New Zealand must comply with the Code and be safe for human consumption. All new food substances require premarket approval, before they can legally be supplied. Premarket approval involves a rigorous safety assessment using the best available scientific evidence.
An application must be submitted to FSANZ that meets the requirements set out in the FSANZ Application Handbook. Applications for food additives, processing aids, novel foods and nutritive substances must include particle size, size distribution and morphology, where the substance(s) is particulate in nature and will remain so in the final food. Applications to approve a food substance must also include the raw data and studies necessary to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment and establish the safety of the exact same food substance. If there is insufficient data to establish the safety of the food substance, we will not grant approve.
If FSANZ receives an application for a new type of engineered nanometre scale particle in food, we would assess it depending on the standard that applies. For example, the premarket requirements of the novel food standard apply to non traditional foods where an assessment of the public health and safety considerations is required having regard to:
- the potential for adverse effects in humans
- the composition or structure of the food
- the process by which the food has been prepared
- the source from which it is derived; or patterns and levels of consumption of the food
- any other relevant matters.
Through the standards in the Code, FSANZ has the capacity to prohibit or grant different permissions for different physical forms of food substances, should the safety assessment determine there is a case to do so. There are also mandatory upper limits set for contaminants such as heavy metals and residues of agricultural and veterinary residues in food.
The key issue is whether there is sufficient evidence to establish the safety of the exact physico-chemical entity.
The Code also sets out the requirements for labelling foods in Australia and New Zealand. The purpose of standards for food labels is to provide information to consumers that allow them to make informed choices. The Code is enforced in Australia by the state and territory governments and in New Zealand by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA). The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) enforces the Code for imported foods in Australia and the NZFSA enforces it for imported foods in New Zealand
FSANZ will monitor research developments related to nanotechnology and food safety occurring around the world on an ongoing basis. FSANZ will continue to ensure the safety of food is rigorously assessed through the application of the current provisions of the Code and will make adjustments to the regulatory framework should it become necessary.
What else is FSANZ doing about nanotechnology?
As with most developed countries, FSANZ is currently gathering information from all available scientific sources and has established comprehensive networks and contacts for exchange of information on the use of nanotechnology with our regulatory colleagues both within Australia, New Zealand and internationally.
FSANZ has appointed a senior project manager and set up an in-house steering group to keep abreast of nanotechnology developments and respond to the situation appropriately.
FSANZ has extensive linkages with international organisations and regulatory agencies and collaborated with the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO) to facilitate a joint FAO/WHO ‘International Meeting on Food Safety Implications of Nanotechnology Applications in the Food and Agriculture Sectors’ that was held in 2009. FSANZ is also participating in other international activities through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX) and the Quadrilateral Countries (Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America).
FSANZ is also liaising with bodies representing food manufacturers, retailers and food packaging manufacturers in Australia and New Zealand to monitor developments in nanotechnology and its applications