A Crash Course in Food Contact Materials and Health
Are you new to the field and looking for an overview of the latest science of food contact materials and health? On this page, we brought together all the basics, including key numbers from our databases. While our website still has many more in-depth resources to explore, this page is a great place to start.
Food contact materials (FCMs) are all around us and enable our modern food system. They are the materials used to make food packaging, cooking utensils, as well as food processing equipment, and they come into direct contact with the food we eat. But chemicals in these FCMs can move into and contaminate our food. The chemicals in FCMs are known as food contact chemicals (FCCs). All numbers are based on our own databases.
Our chemical databases
FCCdb
Food Contact Chemicals database
FCCmigex
Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact chemicals
FCChumon
Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans
FCCprio
Food Contact Chemicals Priority List
12,285 chemicals are reported to be used in the manufacture of FCMs.
- Printing inks: 5603
- Plastics: 4559
- Coatings: 2657
- Paper: 2641
- Adhesives: 1503
- Glass, metal, and ceramics: 72
More details
Many more are unknown, and experts estimate up to 100,000 FCCs might be present.
5,005 have been found in or to migrate from FCMs.
Plastics: 3696
- Printing ink: 290
- Adhesive: 190
- Coating: 39
Paper & board: 1847
- Coating: 439
- Printing ink: 272
- Adhesive: 96
Other FCMs: 1033
- Adhesive: 109
- Printing ink: 68
- Coating: 23
Multi-materials: 706
- Printing ink: 258
- Adhesive: 176
- Coating: 20
Metals: 455
- Coating: 343
- Printing ink: 11
- Adhesive: N/A
Glass & ceramic: 65
- Coating: 17
- Printing ink: N/A
- Adhesive: N/A
More details
Individual chemicals may have been detected in more than one food contact material.
In total, there are 15,159 different known FCCs.
Chemicals reported to be used in the manufacture of FCMs.
Food Contact Chemicals Database (FCCdb)
Chemicals that have been found in or to migrate from food contact materials.
Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex)
Known food contact chemicals
FCCdb + FCCmigex
More details
The overlap of these two chemical datasets is surprisingly small (1,397 chemicals). This indicates that they are either non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) or were used intentionally for the manufacture of food contact articles without being recorded in any of the 67 global regulatory or industry lists from which the FCCdb was compiled.
Note that these are the FCCs to which a CASid could be assigned, chemicals without CASid are not shown here.
3,601 of the 15,159 have been found in humans.
Chemicals reported to be used in the manufacture of FCMs.
Food Contact Chemicals Database (FCCdb)
Chemicals that have been found in or to migrate from food contact materials.
Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex)
Known food contact chemicals
FCCdb + FCCmigex
Chemicals that have been found in humans.
Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon)
More details
Food contact materials are not necessarily the only exposure source of these chemicals.
1,222 of the 15,159 are known to be hazardous to our health. 12,317 are missing data to ensure their safety.
*evidence from national biomonitoring programs
More details
Tier 1 (94) are chemicals with evidence for human exposure due to their detection in national
biomonitoring programs and migration from FCMs.
Tier 2 (264) are chemicals with evidence for migration, but they have not been detected in humans in national biomonitoring programs.
Tier 3 (224) are chemicals known to be present in FCMs, but they have not been shown to migrate from FCMs.
Tier 4 (640) includes FCCs that have no evidence for presence or migration from FCMs but are potentially used in FCM manufacture.
- Groh, K., et al. (2021). “Overview of intentionally used food contact chemicals and their hazards.“ Environment International. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106225
- Geueke, B., et al. (2022). “Systematic evidence on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals: Most chemicals detected in food contact materials are not listed for use.” Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2067828
- Geueke, B., et al. (2023). “Evidence for widespread human exposure to food contact chemicals.” Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology. DOI: 10.1038/s41370-024-00718-2
- Wiesinger, H., et al. (2025). “Priority Food Contact Chemicals (FCCprio) List: Methodology.” Version: 0.1. Zenodo. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14881618
Food packaging is safe, right?
In this video, Jane explains why food packaging cannot be considered “safe” in the sense of not containing hazardous chemicals. She introduces the fundamentals of chemical migration, toxicity of hazardous chemicals, low dose exposures, and chemical mixtures. The episode also discusses current gaps in the EU regulations on food contact materials (FCMs) and articles (FCAs).
- Muncke, J., et al. (2020). “Impacts of food contact chemicals on human health: a consensus statement.” Environmental Health. DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-0572-5
Are low levels of chemicals in food packaging safe?
Jane discusses how chemicals are defined as ‘safe’ through chemical risk assessments, including the concepts of hazard and exposure. She presents why low levels of chemicals present in food packaging may not mean that they are safe levels. This includes an understanding of (i) non-monotonic dose responses where effects from a chemical are seen at lower but not at higher concentrations, (ii) mixtures of chemicals migrating together from food packaging, and (iii) the timing of exposure to a chemical (such as on pre-natal or early life phases) that can be critical, even at low concentrations.
- Costa, S.A., et al. (2020). “Consumption of packaged foods by the Portuguese population: type of materials and its associated factors.” British Food Journal. DOI: 10.1108/BFJ-07-2020-0584
- EU legal definition of safety: “Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and repealing.”
- Non-monotonic dose-response: vom Saal, et al. (1997). “Prostate enlargement in mice due to fetal exposure to low doses of estradiol or diethylstilbestrol and opposite effects at high doses.” Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.94.5.2056
- Health and Environment Alliance. (March 2019). “Low doses matter.“
- Food Packaging Forum. (November 2020). “Food Contact Chemicals Database and list of priority substances.”
- European Parliament. (January 2019). “Endocrine disruptors: From scientific evidence to human health protection.”
- Mixture toxicity: Silva, E., et al. (2002). “Something from “nothing” − Eight weak estrogenic chemicals combined at concentrations below NOECs produce significant mixture effects.” Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/es0101227
- Tanner, E., et al. (2019). “Early prenatal exposure to suspected endocrine disruptor mixtures is associated with lower IQ at age seven.” Environmental International. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105185
All chemicals that could transfer from packaging into food are well known, right?
Jane discusses what types of chemicals can be present in food packaging, including the unknown “non-intentionally added substances” (NIAS) and the challenges they pose to ensuring chemical safety, recycling, and enabling a circular economy. Of the more than 8,000 chemicals known to be used to make food packaging and other food contact articles, she reviews published data describing the very small number of them that are actually being regularly and systemically checked and enforced in food packaging available on the market. She also discusses the (i) challenges posed by chemical additives present in biodegradable packaging intended for composting, (ii) ongoing revision of food contact material regulations in the EU, and (iii) how prioritizing removal of the most hazardous chemicals can be a first step for moving forward.
- Food Packaging Forum. (2020). “List of priority food contact chemicals and Food Contact Chemicals database (FCCdb).“
- McCombie, G. (2018). “Enforcement’s Perspective.” Presentation during EU food contact material stakeholder event.
- Food Packaging Forum. (2018). “Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and dossier.”
- Food Packaging Forum. (2018). “Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and dossier.”
- Food Packaging Forum. (2021). “Brand and Retailer Initiatives Database.“
- European Union. (2020). “Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.”
- Food Packaging Forum. (2021). “PFAS detected in European disposable food packaging“
What about microplastics?
Plastic and plastic-containing food contact articles including food packaging and food processing equipment are a source of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in food. Common actions that can release MNPs into food include opening a bottle or brewing tea.
In this video, Lisa explains our Database of MNPs from Food Contact Materials (FCMiNo). It maps the scientific evidence for MNPs detected in foodstuffs or food simulants that have been in contact with all types of plastic food contact articles.
- Zimmermann, L., et al. (2025). “Food contact articles as source of micro- and nanoplastics: A systematic evidence map.” npj Science of Food. DOI: 10.1038/s41538-025-00470-3
Reduce, reuse, recycle - when it comes to dealing with food packaging waste, it's that simple, right?
Jane explores the functions of food packaging. Why is the evolution of human culture closely linked to food packaging functionalities? And what is the role of food packaging in enabling food industry and retail business models? What types of environmental impacts of food packaging should be considered when comparing options? And: Why is recycling not a silver-bullet solution when it comes to addressing the waste from food packaging?
- Food Packaging Forum. (2018). “Food packaging in the circular economy.”
- Geueke, B., Groh, K., and Muncke, J. (2018). “Food packaging in the circular economy: Overview of chemical safety aspects for commonly used materials.” Journal of Cleaner Production. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.005
- Food Packaging Forum. (2021). “Food Packaging and Recycling Fact Sheets.”
- SUM’D. (2021). “Understanding Packaging Scorecard.”
- Food Packaging Forum. (2021). “UN Food Systems Summit: FPF letter to the Scientific Committee.”
- Food Packaging Forum. (2021). “Studies investigate circular economy barriers, consumer perceptions.”
- Muncke, J., et al. (2020). “Impacts of food contact chemicals on human health: a consensus statement.” Environmental Health. DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-0572-5
What about recycled materials? Are some inherently safer?
We developed a training module within the FitNESS 2.0 Project introducing the known universe of the thousands of different chemicals that can be present in food contact materials. The chemical diversity and migration potential of different food contact materials are explored, including the distinction between permanent and non-permanent materials as well as the chemical complexities and limitations associated with “bio-based” or “biodegradable” materials. The training module equips readers to navigate scientific and policy discussions surrounding the chemical safety of food contact materials, especially concerning reuse and recycling.
Additional resources
Want even more resources to get familiar with food contact materials and health? Check out our fact sheets, background articles, and fact bites.
