Cellulosic food packaging: conformity assessment for phthalates, metals and food migration

Abstract

Cellulosic packaging is widely used as food packaging, being predominantly single use (disposable). The increase in the public interest for the conservation of natural resources and for economic reasons led to an increase in the use of recycled paper, cardboard and corrugated paper. The Mercosur technical regulation, Resolution GMC nº 40/15, published as Resolution RDC nº 88/16 by ANVISA (Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency), approved the use of recycled fibers in the cellulosic material for food contact. However, the packaging must comply with the maximum limits for specific migration of some chemical substances, among them the phthalates DBP, DIBP and DEHP, and metals As, Cr, Cd, Pb and Hg. The safety of recycled cellulosic materials for use in food contact is directly related to the ability of the post-consumer contaminants to be absorbed by the recycled material and subsequently released by the packaging material and absorbed by the food. Thus, this project aims to study the migration of DBP, DIBP and DEHP plasticizers that are used in inks for printing cellulosic packages commercialized in the Brazilian market and DIPN, a substance from the recycling of carbonless paper identified in several international studies, as well as the migration of elements As and Cr and water extraction of Cd, Pb and Hg. Therefore, if the paper chips used in the recycling process have low concentrations of the plasticizers used in printing inks and metals, packages made from recycled cellulosic fibers must show a specific migration below the maximum limit laid down in the legislation. Therefore, a guarantee is given that plasticizers and metals will not migrate to the foodstuff and be improperly ingested by the consumers. In addition, commercial samples of foodstuffs normally packed in cellulosic packages will be evaluated for migration of the chemical substances under study. (AU)