General

The working group sees itself as a neutral body that deals with questions of the composition and analysis of consumer goods, as they are mentioned in the Food and Feed Code (LFGB). These are in particular:

 

• Materials and objects that come into contact with food
  (e.g. cooking, drinking and eating utensils, packaging materials)
• Body contact products
  (e.g. clothing including shoes, accessories such as bracelets, ear studs)
• Toys (for babies, children and adults) and novelty articles
  The mentioned items of daily use can consist of a wide variety of materials, eg. B. glass, ceramic, wood, metal, leather, textile, plastic (e.g. PE, PP, PA, PES, PVC).

In addition:

 

• Household chemicals (e.g. detergents, all-purpose cleaners, impregnating agents and finishing agents for textiles)
• Cleaning agents in food production
• as well as scented oils to improve the air in the room

These agents can also be dangerous preparations i. P. Act of chemicals law.

Main goals and activities

 

• Advice to federal authorities: Elaboration of statements on national and European legal regulations
• Exchange of information and cooperation with national and international expert bodies (e.g. DIN, CEN, Plastics Commission)
• Development of analytical methods for the investigation of consumer goods, including round robin tests, discussion of current topics on consumer goods
• public relations: information consumer goods, publications and statements on selected topics

Current analytical questions

 

• Nickel release from metallic objects in contact with the skin
• Azo dyes in textiles and leather
• Analysis of chromium (VI) in leather
• Analysis of sensitizing disperse dyes in textiles
• Food packaging: Analysis of isopropylthioxanthone (ITX) and food contamination from printed packaging

Current discussion topics

 

• Phthalic acid esters in toys
• Formaldehyde release from wooden puzzles
• Nanoparticles in detergents and cleaning agents
• Restriction of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment - analysis and importance for consumer goods
• Lead-containing costume jewelery for children - investigation procedures, legal regulations

Position papers and publications

Position papers

 

• Position paper on the organisation of monitoring of consumer goods: Food chemists are still the experts for food and consumer protection! (2012) ( pdf )
• Dangerous substances in toys (2008) ( pdf )
• Position paper on the new regulation of nickel in the Consumer Goods Ordinance, (food chemistry 60, 74, 2006) ( pdf )

Publications

 

• Chromium(VI) in leather articles (2007) ( pdf )
• Analysis of flame-retardant textiles, (food chemistry 60, 2 (2006)
• Analysis of pentachlorophenol (PCP), (food chemistry 59, 52, 2005)

Literature on consumer goods

 

• Analysis of consumer goods, LW Kroh (Ed.), 2007, Behr`s Verlag Hamburg
• consumer goods, A. Montag, 1997, Behr`s Verlag Hamburg
• Paperback for food chemists, W. Frede (Ed.), 2006, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg