Related Experiment Videos
Project SafeFoodPack Design: case study on indirect migration from paper and boards
Phuong-Mai Nguyen1, Jean Mario Julien2, Colette Breysse3
1a INRA , UMR 1145 Food Processing Engineering, Group Interaction between Material and Media in Contact , Massy , France.
Summary
Indirect food contamination from cardboard packaging, like mineral oils, is a persistent issue. This study models migration through plastic layers, offering rules to manage risks and ensure food safety.
Area of Science:
- Food science and packaging technology
- Chemical migration studies
- Risk assessment in food safety
Background:
- Indirect food contamination from packaging materials, particularly cardboard, poses significant sanitary risks.
- Contamination by mineral oils and printing ink constituents is poorly understood, hindering effective risk management.
- Existing knowledge gaps include migration mechanisms, contaminant properties, and storage condition impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a forensic analysis of contaminant migration from cardboard to food, separated by a plastic layer.
- To develop predictive models and practical rules for understanding and controlling indirect food contamination.
- To provide recommendations for risk management strategies concerning non-contact contamination routes.
Main Methods:
- Forensic analysis of contaminant migration phenomena.
- Development and validation of practical relationships and advanced simulation scenarios.
- Long-term migration studies (20-60°C) of 15 representative cardboard contaminants (mineral oils, photo-initiators, plasticisers).
Main Results:
- Quantified migration of 15 substances through plastic films over time and temperature.
- Generated iso-contamination curves and iso-contamination times up to 2 years.
- Established simple rules for extrapolating results to arbitrary conditions and estimating required plastic film thickness.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a framework for understanding and mitigating indirect food contamination from cardboard packaging.
- Developed tools enable identification of critical contaminants and determination of protective plastic film requirements.
- Recommendations are offered for effective risk management of non-contact contamination pathways in the food industry.