3 replies to this topic

[wandera]

Hello Guys, I have been doing risk assessment for allergens in our premises. To my knowledge most of the allergens are triggered by food especially proteins. Since we only manufacture plastics can there be allergens associated with plastic. Kindly assist me on this.

[pHruit]

I believe it's possible to have irritation (e.g. contact dermatitis) caused by some of the components of some plastics, but that's unlikely to be the focus of your allergen program. I assume you're manufacturing plastics for use as food packaging?

If so, your allergen program will primarily be about preventing accidental contamination of the product with food allergens. For example, if one of your colleagues eats some peanuts on their break and then starts handling product without washing their hands, putting their PPE on etc, they are potentially going to transfer proteins from the peanuts onto the packaging, and from their it can get transferred onto whatever food product your customer packs in it, posing a risk to consumers who are allergic to peanut. 

Your risk assessment is therefore likely to primarily focus on accidental routes of potential contamination with food allergens.

[SQFconsultant]

The only potential  "allergen" I know in plastics is an allergen that is actually produced by the process of making plastic. 

 

Acryate, a chemical molecule or monomer that is used in a process called polymerisation to form plastic materials can cause a a very strong allergic reaction with some people and with some others it can cause an irritant.

[juanolea1]

Hello all,

 

For clarification, would this be Acrylate?

 

Thanks!