The Department of Plant Protection at the College of Agriculture, University of Kerbala, organized a seminar entitled “The Impact of Adhesive Stickers on Fresh Foods, International Regulations, and Toward Innovative Solutions for Their Development,” presented by the student (Ali Jassim Abd Hashim). The seminar was held as part of the scientific activities aimed at highlighting modern aspects related to food safety and quality during the post-harvest stage.
The seminar addressed the regulatory and marketing dimensions of using adhesive stickers on fruits and vegetables and their role in food identification and traceability systems. This included a review of the globally adopted (PLU) code system used to identify the type of product and its production method, in addition to food classification systems such as (Nutri-Score) and the (Traffic Light Rating) system, which serve as informative and regulatory tools that contribute to enhancing consumer awareness.
The seminar also highlighted potential issues associated with the use of these stickers, particularly the possibility of certain chemical compounds migrating from inks or adhesive materials to the surface of fruits. This raises scientific questions regarding health safety standards and the international regulations governing them.
The seminar aimed to discuss the importance of developing safer and more sustainable alternatives, such as edible or biodegradable stickers, as well as moving toward innovative identification technologies that reduce environmental impact and achieve a balance between marketing requirements and modern food safety standards.
At the conclusion of the seminar, emphasis was placed on the importance of keeping pace with global developments in food identification systems and strengthening scientific research to develop advanced technological solutions that support the sustainability of food supply chains while preserving consumer health and the environment.
