In what seems to be a dramatic turn from its earlier stance to ban the use of plastic in packaging hot food and drinks, the National Food Control Joint Committee at the Supreme Council of Health has now decided to allow bakeries and other outlets to use “food grade” plastic with effect from June 1.
In July last year, health authorities decided to activate a Cabinet decision (No. 1 of 2009) on food packaging after having found that hot items cause chemical components in plastics to leach into food whose consumption may lead to health problems.
It was also found that toxic chemicals in plastics could lead to diseases like cancer, birth defects, hormone changes, respiratory problems, gastric ulcers as well as eye and liver problems.
Qatar was to become the first country in the region to prohibit the use of plastics to serve hot food after the ban has become effective in many developed countries.
Translucent paper conforming to the country standards (GSO 458/1994) that must not be coloured, have ink or any kind of graphics on it had been recommended as a replacement for plastic by the committee.
“Having found out that the only feasible alternative to plastic, which is the translucent paper, can not be produced locally due to unavailability of raw materials and since we will not want to take any step that will trigger price increase in the affected sector by allowing import of the paper, the committee has decided to permit concerned outlets to continue using plastic, but only the approved food graded one,” SCH Public Health Department director Dr Mohamed al-Thani said during a press conference.
“Food graded plastic is already in use in Europe, but we don’t want to import anything since we have the raw materials to produce this kind of plastic locally, so that is why we have sent those samples to Saudi Arabia for checking and approval,” Dr al-Thani stated.
There are plans to set up a similar laboratory, he added.
He mentioned that there would be a quality and food grade logo on the approved plastics, which will further assure consumers that the products are safe for human consumptions.
“We will like to clear the ground that though most of the plastic being used presently for packing bread, especially khubbs, are not food graded, yet the bread are still safe to eat because around 80% of the bakeries are presently using a long cooling system, that is, allowing bread to cool down to around 70 degrees before wrapping in plastic,” he maintained.
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Ban on plastic use by bakeries eased
By Noimot Olayiwola/Staff Reporter
In what seems to be a dramatic turn from its earlier stance to ban the use of plastic in packaging hot food and drinks, the National Food Control Joint Committee at the Supreme Council of Health has now decided to allow bakeries and other outlets to use “food grade” plastic with effect from June 1.
In July last year, health authorities decided to activate a Cabinet decision (No. 1 of 2009) on food packaging after having found that hot items cause chemical components in plastics to leach into food whose consumption may lead to health problems.
It was also found that toxic chemicals in plastics could lead to diseases like cancer, birth defects, hormone changes, respiratory problems, gastric ulcers as well as eye and liver problems.
Qatar was to become the first country in the region to prohibit the use of plastics to serve hot food after the ban has become effective in many developed countries.
Translucent paper conforming to the country standards (GSO 458/1994) that must not be coloured, have ink or any kind of graphics on it had been recommended as a replacement for plastic by the committee.
“Having found out that the only feasible alternative to plastic, which is the translucent paper, can not be produced locally due to unavailability of raw materials and since we will not want to take any step that will trigger price increase in the affected sector by allowing import of the paper, the committee has decided to permit concerned outlets to continue using plastic, but only the approved food graded one,” SCH Public Health Department director Dr Mohamed al-Thani said during a press conference.
“Food graded plastic is already in use in Europe, but we don’t want to import anything since we have the raw materials to produce this kind of plastic locally, so that is why we have sent those samples to Saudi Arabia for checking and approval,” Dr al-Thani stated.
There are plans to set up a similar laboratory, he added.
He mentioned that there would be a quality and food grade logo on the approved plastics, which will further assure consumers that the products are safe for human consumptions.
“We will like to clear the ground that though most of the plastic being used presently for packing bread, especially khubbs, are not food graded, yet the bread are still safe to eat because around 80% of the bakeries are presently using a long cooling system, that is, allowing bread to cool down to around 70 degrees before wrapping in plastic,” he maintained.