On 10 June 2025, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a re-assessment of the genotoxicity risk of styrene in plastic food contact materials (FCMs), following a request from the European Commission. The evaluation focused on whether oral exposure to styrene at levels currently permitted poses a health concern.
EFSA’s Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) reviewed in vivo oral genotoxicity studies from third-party submissions, a targeted literature search, and data from the 2019 IARC Monograph. These studies—covering multiple genetic endpoints and key organs like the liver—showed no genotoxic effects in rats and mice, even at high doses (up to 500 mg/kg body weight).
The Panel concluded that styrene does not present a genotoxic hazard following oral exposure. Therefore, the proposed specific migration limit (SML) of 40 μg/kg food remains safe for consumers. According to EFSA guidelines, even an SML of up to 50 μg/kg would not pose a safety concern for non-genotoxic substances.
Implications:
This finding supports continued use of styrene-based plastics in food packaging under current regulatory limits, providing reassurance for manufacturers, regulators, and public health stakeholders.
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