When water-based inks were first introduced, we thought this meant that the products were “safe.” But the material safety data sheets (MSDS) from the manufacturers showed many of the inks to contain up to 20 percent glycol ether solvents. Even today’s “low VOC” (volatile organic compound) inks can give off enough residual solvents to significantly alter the aroma and the taste of food products. Some water-based inks used in package printing contain glycol ethers and considerable levels of resid...