Issue on Food Plastic Packaging by Kitty

What is the issue?

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 14:33:24 UTC

Plastic packaging plays a significant role in the shelf life and ease of storage and cooking for many foods. Plastic packaging, containers and cling films often have instructions on how to use them safely to keep the chemical migration to a minimum. However some people have expressed health concerns regarding chemicals migrating from the plastic packaging or cling film into food in contact with it.

Migrating Compounds

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 14:39:28 UTC

- Additives: antioxidants, ultraviolet (UV) stabilizers or plasticizers

- Monomers

- Catalysts

- Degradation products

Migration Effect

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 14:49:05 UTC

Bad taste, bad odors or harmful effects to humans and limit the lifetime of the package.

Why adding additive in plastic?

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 14:51:14 UTC

- To protect packaging from UV, mechanical or oxidative deterioration

- To increase softness

- To improve the overall appearance or quality of the plastic product

The additives are not covalently bound to the polymer therefore susceptible

to migration during heating or long term storage.

What components of plastic can migrate into food?

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 14:54:54 UTC

Bisphenol A (BPA) formed when:

i) Polycarbonate bottles are washed with harsh detergents or bleach.

ii) Some food or drink cans may be lined with a lacquer to stop the food interacting with the tin.

-At high levels of exposure, BPA is potentially hazardous because it mimics the female hormone estrogen.

-Tolerable Daily Intake level adopted by the European Commission of 0.05mg/kg body weight/day2.

What components of plastic can migrate into food?

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 15:12:54 UTC

Diethylhexyl adipate (DEHA)

-DEHA is a food-compatible phthalate plasticiser. Tiny amounts may migrate into fatty food such as meat or cheese, especially with heating.

-European Union have recommended a safe level for Tolerable Daily Intake of DEHA intake to be up to 21 mg/day for a 70 kg adult.

What components of plastic can migrate into food?

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 15:16:50 UTC

Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)

DEHP is another plasticiser that has been of concern because it can migrate. It has been used as jar or bottle seals and lid inserts of bottles, spreads and juices and may be in printing ink for labels.

Parameter Affecting Migration

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 15:27:10 UTC

- Nature and complexity of food

- Contact time and temperature of the system

- Type of packaging contact layer

- The properties of the migrants.

Reduce The Migration

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 15:32:32 UTC

Proper use of plasticpackaging lowers chemical migration

- Follow manufacturers instructions when using household plastics

- Follow recommendations for cleaning products to be used on containers, bottles and lids

- Use the correct type of plastic for the role

Household cling film in the microwave

- Don’t let it touch the food during microwave cooking as it melts at a low temperature

- Leave a corner of the dish uncovered to allow the steam to escape

Meat in trays and commercial wrap

Meat can be safely frozen in the tray and wrap, but thaw at a cool temperature. Migration of DEHA increases with heating in contact with a fatty food.

Re-using plastic containers

- Re-use plastic containers that are food compatible, in the way the original food was presented

- Some types of plastics are not microwave proof as they melt at moderate temperatures

Canned food

Avoid food or drink from dented food cans.

Supermarket checkout bags

- Don’t heat food in supermarket checkout bags

- Use the bags right-side-in so that food does not contact printing ink

- Standard types of supermarket checkout bags can be used in the fridge or freezer

The Science of BPA

kittytan_lx92 — 2014-12-06 16:07:53 UTC