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Listen to this siteWednesday 18 June 2003
This research project generated information on the use, composition and migration potential of specific adhesive systems used in food contact packaging.
Study Duration : September 2003 to March 2006
Contractor : Central Science Laboratory
Adhesives are constituents of a variety of food packaging materials. Applications include:
Several chemical substances are present in adhesives and, when used in food packaging, these substances may have the potential to transfer (migrate) from the adhesive(s) to the foodstuffs.
The objective of this project was to assess if there was any chemical migration from selected adhesive systems.
The adhesive systems selected for investigation were those for which there were limited information on the potential for migration available in the scientific literature. These were:
Identities of chemical substances detected in solvent extracts of these systems were proposed and worst case migration potentials and resulting exposure values were calculated.
Migration studies were undertaken on those systems found to have substances with the potential to exceed any Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) / Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) or other established exposure restriction values.
Seals used on plastic lidding on products such as ready-meals.
Although several substances were detected in the solvent extracts and exposed food simulants, there was little if any measured migration into foods. When migration levels were estimated as loss from the films to the simulant/food there was no notable difference relative to the variation in the analyte concentration across the films.
Adhesives used to attach sticky labels to thin layers of film.
Several potential migrants were detected in the adhesives of the sticky labels investigated, and some of these substances were detected in simulants exposed to the labels behind a layer of polyethylene.
Migration into simulants was also observed from labels behind a layer of polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate.
When the migration of these substances was tested into foods the levels were low or not detectable.
Seals used on sachets/pouches/side-seams on products such as single sauce portions and paper cups.
Samples of an area of the packaging containing side seams, were compared with those obtained from an area with no side seam.
No residues due to the adhesive were found.
Adhesives used to attach meat pads onto trays.
Volatile migrants were determined by headspace Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). None of the substances identified had Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) / Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) restrictions assigned. Solvent extraction of these adhesives resulted in dissolution of the adhesive and the resulting mixtures were not suitable for analysis by GC-MS or LC-MS.
Although several substances were detected in the adhesive systems investigated, only low (parts per billion) levels of migration were observed into foods. In these applications, where only a relatively small area of adhesive is used and this area is not intended to touch the packaged food directly, the migration potential is low.
The final report is available from the Agency's Information Centre.
To obtain a copy, please contact the Enquiry Desk, Information Services, Food Standards Agency (tel: 020 7276 8181/8182 or email:
infocentre@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
)
Contact
: For any enquiries concerning this research project, please contact the relevant Programme contact or email:
science@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
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