The objective of the focus action was to test the composition and labeling of food inks in printer cartridges, in spray cans and for spray guns. Cartridges, capsules and containers were tested for food conformity and information on printable edible papers was collected. Thirty-seven samples from all over Austria were examined. 23 samples were objected to (in some cases several times):

• 17 samples were objected to because of labeling deficiencies
• eleven samples were rejected, e.g. due to errors in the list of ingredients, the storage instructions, the best-before date and the instructions for use
• in three samples, the composition did not comply with food regulations.

In recent years, new methods for the color decoration of foodstuffs have become established, which are based on conventional printing and spraying techniques and are suitable for transferring high-resolution images onto edible surfaces using food colors. As part of the action, it was to be examined whether the color print cartridges, spray bottles and premixes for spray guns used for this purpose comply with food law requirements.