Keeping Kitchen Papers Safe: What the Recent China Recall Means for Food-Contact Paper Compliance

A recent consumer product recall in China has put a spotlight on an unexpected place: kitchen paper towels.

Market regulators pulled 1,500 units of wall-mounted paper towels off shelves after testing revealed acrylamide levels of about 0.14 mg/kg, which crosses the 0.1 mg/kg limit mandated by China's national standard (GB/T 26174-2023).  The culprit? Incomplete polymerization during raw pulp processing left behind unreacted acrylamide monomer in the final product.

A Growing Global Focus on Acrylamide

Acrylamide—classified by IARC as Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans) and linked to potential neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity—is drawing stricter scrutiny worldwide:

• In China: The GB/T 26174-2023 standard enforces clear acrylamide limits specifically for kitchen paper towels.
• Internationally: Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) introduced a strict requirement of no detectable acrylamide release (less than or equal to 0.01 mg/kg) for cooking paper, baking paper, and absorbent pads.

These shifts show that managing acrylamide is evolving into a vital, mainstream compliance standard globally, extending far beyond a single market or product type.

How SGS Can Help Your Brand Stay Ahead

As regulations tighten globally, manufacturers of kitchen paper, baking paper, filter paper, and other food-contact materials need to verify their supply chains early. SGS provides complete testing and regulatory support—guiding you from raw pulp screening all the way to finished product verification against national and international standards.

Food Contact Materials (FCM) services from SGS ensure compliance with requirements for sale and distribution in global markets.

For more information on this offer, feel free to contact our Sales representative.

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