In a review study published on April 18, 2023, chemical migration from polyethylene (PE) food packaging was systematically addressed across the whole lifecycle. Lead author Spyridoula Gerassimidou from Brunel University, London, together with co-authors, including scientists from the Food Packaging Forum, compiled a systematic evidence map of 116 published studies examining the migration of food contact chemicals (FCCs).
Out of the 377 FCCs analyzed in total across the studies, 211 were identified to migrate from PE packaging into food or food simulants in at least one study. Only 25% of these 211 FCCs are authorized for use as starting substances in plastic food contact materials under Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, and a quarter of them were found to exceed their specific migration limits (SML). One-third (53) of the other migrating FCCs exceeded the commonly applied limit of 10 μg/kg according to at least one study.
The studies used in this review were derived from the Food Packaging Forum’s Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) using filters to include only the evidence related to the chemical migration of FCCs from PE food packaging. Given the lack of market declaration of recycled content and the limited number of recycling processes available for PE food packaging, the underlying data in the study is assumed to primarily refer to virgin PE. Following the adoption of the EU’s new plastics recycling regulation (FPF reported), it is expected that the future will see an increased research focus on PE recycling processes for food packaging.
Given the significant number of chemicals migrating at levels above regulatory limits from PE food packaging, and especially considering that many are not present on authorized lists, the authors emphasize this “highlights the lack of data traceability and sufficient harmonisation of existing regulations.” More importantly, they find this outcome depicts “the currently insufficient state-of-the-evidence available for PE food contact materials (FCMs) [and] hinders our ability to identify the right points of intervention in the PE value chain.” According to the authors, there is a strong need for further research into this topic to fill knowledge gaps and support the development of an adequate regulatory framework. Finally, they suggest that reducing the volume of PE produced for food contact applications would be a good starting point to transition towards a sustainable and circular plastics value chain.
Reference
Gerassimidou, S. et al. (2023). “Unpacking the complexity of the polyethylene food contact articles value chain: A chemicals perspective.” Journal of Hazardous Materials. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131422
Read more
Hayley Jarvis (May 18, 2023). “Recycled plastic food wrappers spark safety concerns.” Brunel University London
Food Packaging Forum (May 18, 2022). “FCCmigex Database.”
