FoodDrinkEurope today hosted its fourth annual Nanotechnology Stakeholder Dialogue meeting on “Potential applications of nanotechnologies in the food industry’’. In light of the anticipated benefits that nanotechnologies could offer to consumers and society in the field of food safety, quality, nutrition and benefits for the environment, this is an obvious area of interest and exploration for Europe’s food and drink manufacturing industry.

Speaking at the Fourth Nanotechnology Dialogue Day, Dr. Mike Knowles, Chairman of the FoodDrinkEurope Nanotechnology Expert Group commented: “Today’s meeting demonstrates the progress being made by food manufacturers for the fourth consecutive year in continuing to engage in an open, transparent and constructive dialogue with stakeholders around the important subject of nanotechnologies and their potential benefits for the consumer and society in addressing social, economic and environmental challenges of our time. We hope that, with this Dialogue, the food industry is helping to address misconceptions and fears around the potential use of nanotechnologies in our industry and we look forward to continuing this process moving forward, keeping consumers fully informed of new developments.”

The fourth Stakeholder Dialogue meeting brought together a wide range of stakeholders from across the policy spectrum (policy-makers, researchers, consumer groups and the media) worldwide, demonstrating the willingness of food manufacturers to openly engage with actors upstream and downstream on the potential applications of nanotechnology in a transparent way.

Following on from previous years, this year’s Dialogue looked at global developments with high level speakers from the OECD and Joint Research Centre talking about potential applications (food contact materials and ingredients), the social benefits of nanotechnology in the food chain and the need for ‘fit for purpose’ definitions (differentiating between naturally occurring nanomaterial and that which is produced to introduce new properties to a food) and comprehensive testing methods. The event also addressed safety assessment of nanomaterials, with speakers from EFSA and ILSI, both from Europe and the US providing the latest in guidelines on nanotech for food and feed.

For further information on FoodDrinkEurope Nanotechnology Stakeholder Dialogue Days and related activities, visit: http://www.fooddrinkeurope.eu/industry-in-focus/topic/nanotechnology/

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For further information please contact:

Lisa McCooey, Communications Director

Tel.: +32 2 514 11 11, Mob.: +32 476 911 300

l.mccooey@fooddrinkeurope.eu