2021年8月9日，据欧盟食品安全局（EFSA）消息，欧盟食品接触材料、酶和加工助剂（CEP）研究小组就银纳米颗粒（silver nanoparticles）用于食品接触材料的安全性发表科学意见。
经过评估，专家小组得出结论，如果该物质在聚合物(如聚烯烃、聚酯和苯乙烯)中以高达0.025% w/w的含量用作添加剂，并且在与含水食品和食品模拟物接触时不会膨胀，则不会引起消费者的安全担忧。部分原文报道如下：
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the additive silver nanoparticles intended to be used in plastics. All the silver particles are in the size range of 1–100 nm, with about 15 nm mean diameter and 99% by number of particles below 20 nm. The additive is intended to be used as a surface biocide at up to 0.025% w/w in non-polar plastics for contact with a wide variety of foods, times, temperatures and food contact surface/mass of food ratios. The particulate form is maintained when the additive is incorporated into plastics, albeit with some aggregation/agglomeration observed. The data and information on theoretical considerations, on specific migration and abrasion tests show that, under the intended and tested conditions of uses, the silver nanoparticles stay embedded in the polymer, do not migrate and resist release by abrasion, thus, do not give rise to exposure via food and to toxicological concern. There is migration of silver in soluble ionic form up to 6 μg/kg food from the surface of the additive particles. This is below the group restriction of 50 μg silver/kg food proposed by the AFC Panel in 2004 and would lead to a maximum exposure from FCM that would be below the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.9 μg silver ions/kg body weight (bw) per day established by ECHA. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the substance does not raise safety concern for the consumer if used as an additive at up to 0.025% w/w in polymers, such as polyolefins, polyesters and styrenics, that do not swell in contact with aqueous foods and food simulants. The Panel noted, however, that exposure to silver from other sources of dietary exposure may exceed the ADI set by ECHA.
