From now on food and ready-prepared meal packaging and containers can be made of up to 100% recycled PET (rPET) produced on VACUREMA recycling systems, even if temperatures rise above 120°C (250°F) during the heating process. It does not matter if the items are heated in a microwave or conventional oven.
This has been made possible by the new approval of EREMA's VACUREMA systems for Category J by the FDA*). The systems already have approvals for the FDA Categories C to H.
This extension to the scope of approval has also been carried out by two independent institutes (Fraunhofer and Keller & Heckman) in various forms, including challenge tests. Both this extension and the other FDA approvals apply to systems that have already been supplied. This means that not only new customers but also existing owners of VACUREMA recycling machines will now benefit from the extended scope of possibilities for the rPET pellets produced by the systems.
*) FDA – United States Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov)
VACUREMA PET recycling systems from EREMA GmbH produce rPET which, according to new FDA approval, is also suitable for packaging and containers in which foods and ready-prepared meals can be heated to temperatures exceeding 120°C (250°F) (FDA Category J).
Photo: EREMA
FDA – Definitions of Food Types and Conditions of Use for Food Contact Substances
Table 2--Condition of use
Blaue Schrift: Kategorien, die durch VACUREMA Recycling Maschinen abgedeckt werden.
A.High temperature heat-sterilized (e.g., over 212 deg.F (100°C)).
B.Boiling water sterilized.
C.Hot filled or pasteurized above 150 deg.F (65°C).
D.Hot filled or pasteurized below 150 deg.F (65°C).
E.Room temperature filled and stored (no thermal treatment in the container).
F.Refrigerated storage (no thermal treatment in the container).
G.Frozen storage (no thermal treatment in the container).
H.Frozen or refrigerated storage: Ready-prepared foods intended to be reheated in container at time of use:
1.Aqueous or oil-in-water emulsion of high- or low-fat.
2.Aqueous, high- or low-free oil or fat.
I.Irradiation
J.Cooking at temperatures exceeding 250 deg.F (120°C).
Source: FDA Webseite:
www.fda.gov
| Werner Hentscholek PR & Communications Manager Tel.: +43 (0)732 3190-306 Fax: -6306 w.hentscholek@erema.at |
