We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Investigation of the Safety of Polyethylene Terephthalate/Aluminium Foil/Polyamide/Retort Cast Polypropylene Composite Film Packaging Pouches for Prepared Dishes
AI summary Read the abstract
Using non-target screening with GC-MS and UPLC-QTOF-MS, this study found that high-temperature processing of multilayer plastic food packaging significantly increases chemical migration, identifying 17 non-volatile migrants including polyamide 6 oligomers that exceeded safety thresholds. These results highlight that composite plastic food packaging poses chemical contamination risks beyond visible microplastic fragments, particularly during heat processing.
ABSTRACT The full chain of prepared dishes involves hot filling into the package and high‐temperature steaming with packaging, which may lead to more migrants from the package into the prepared dishes due to the high temperature. This study focused on the safety of the prepared dishes packaging. First, migration tests were designed to fully simulate the entire contact process between polyethylene terephthalate/aluminium foil/polyamide/retort cast polypropylene (PET/Al/PA/RCPP) composite films packaging pouches and prepared dishes throughout the full chain, based on GB 31604.1‐2023. A comparison was made with room temperature simulation tests to investigate the effects of high temperature on migrants. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐QTOF‐MS) were used for the non‐target screening of the migrants. A total of 17 non‐volatile compounds were identified in the full‐chain simulation, while only seven were detected in the room temperature simulation. Especially, the oligomers of inner polyamide 6 (PA 6) migrated through the RCPP layer into the simulants. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares‐discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA) were employed to visualize differences in migrants between the full‐chain and room temperature simulation. Based on the quantitative analysis, risk assessment was conducted. Ethylene glycol adipate cyclic oligomers exceeded the toxicological concern threshold under full‐chain simulation, necessitating more refined risk assessment approaches. These results confirm that high temperature promotes the migration of substances from the packaging, suggesting that prepared dishes should avoid hot filling in the future. If conditions allow, consumers had better not heat them in their packaging to minimize exposure to migrants.
More Papers Like This
Migration of Chemical Compounds from Food Packaging: Regulatory Aspects and Assessment of Potential Risks
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how plastic additives and contaminants migrate from food packaging into food, identifying key factors — material type, temperature, contact time, and food composition — that govern transfer rates and examining the regulatory frameworks designed to limit consumer exposure.
Degradation and Migration in Olive Oil Packaged in Polyethylene Terephthalate under Thermal Treatment and Storage Conditions
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers studied how thermal treatment and storage conditions affect the migration of contaminants from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging into olive oil. The study found that higher temperatures accelerated the degradation of PET and increased the migration of potentially harmful compounds into the oil, raising food safety concerns about plastic-packaged cooking oils.
Quantification of microplastics released from plastic food containers during rinsing and migration by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastics released from plastic food containers during normal rinsing and when exposed to different food types and temperatures. All containers released microplastics matching their material, and high-fat foods, extreme temperatures, and longer exposure times increased the amount released. This study confirms that plastic food packaging is an important and direct source of microplastic exposure for people through their everyday meals.
Recent and emerging food packaging alternatives: Chemical safety risks, current regulations, and analytical challenges
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed chemical safety risks associated with emerging food packaging alternatives—including bio-based, recycled, and active materials—finding that novel materials often introduce unstudied migrant chemicals, with current regulatory frameworks lagging behind rapid innovation in packaging technology.
Migration of Chemical Compounds from Packaging Materials into Packaged Foods: Interaction, Mechanism, Assessment, and Regulations
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how chemical compounds—including plasticizers, nanoparticles, monomers, and printing inks—migrate from food packaging materials into food, detailing the mechanisms involved, associated health risks such as endocrine disruption, and the regulatory frameworks designed to limit consumer exposure.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.