The European Vending Association (EVA) claims cups used in vending machines do not contain Bisphenol A, which the European Commission recently decided to restrict in baby bottles. Despite the European Food Safety Agency's (EFSA) opinion that BPA was not dangerous for human health, the European Commission stated that the decision was made after months of discussion with member states, industry and EFSA itself.
This restriction will be valid as of mid-2011. As far as vending is concerned, cups used in vending do not contain BPA and only some vending machines may have components made out of polycarbonate, like ingredient canisters, EVA claims.
Bisphenol A is a permitted part of polycarbonates for use in food packaging materials and shows no risk for the consumer, based on the scientific opinion of EFSA.
The European Vending Association is of the opinion that this decision undermines the systems and procedures of EFSA, which ensures the safety of food and food contact materials in the European Union, although the EVA understands that the precautionary principle has been applied for the sake of the more vulnerable consumer such as newborns and small infants.
