In short
Due to constant pressure from consumers and authorities to reduce the use of fossil-based plastic, the industry is forced to develop substitute materials. While these materials need to be environmentally friendly, they must be safe for consumers. In the MIGRACARTO study, we investigate potential migrations of various substances (e.g. phthalates, photoinitiators, primary aromatic amines, mineral oils, PFAS and bisphenols) from straws and takeaway articles made of paper and board. The associated risks for the consumer were then assessed.
Project description
Since the ban on single-use plastic articles in Europe, food contact materials (FCM) industries have been forced to move to more sustainable alternatives. Paper and board FCM are convenient alternatives but must be safe for consumers. Therefore, the Federal Public Service of Public Health commissioned the project MIGRACARTO to provide new or renewed scientific evidence to support food safety policy in the field of food contact materials both at the European and national levels. In this study, the potential migrations of various substances (e.g. phthalates, photoinitiators, primary aromatic amines, mineral oils, per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenols) from straws and takeaway articles made of paper and board were investigated.
We first select representative samples based on a web-based market study performed on the Belgian, Dutch, French, German and British markets within the framework of the TREFCOM project (RT 2¼), articles purchased in Belgian supermarkets and articles available in fast food restaurants.
We purchased a total of 20 straws and 58 takeaway articles. The samples were then extracted either intact or after cutting the test specimen. Extraction conditions are based on available CEN methods (EN 645 & EN 15119), meaning that the samples were extracted using milli-Q water or 95% ethanol. Mineral oil was extracted with a mix of ethanol/hexane. Afterwards, we analysed the extracts using liquid (LC) and gas (GC) chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), while specific equipment was applied for the mineral oil analysis (LC-GCxGC-FID). The experiments highlighted the presence of 23 out of the 91 targeted substances, and at least one substance migrated in more than half of the samples (57.7%). Additionally, 21 other substances were detected using a screening methodology.
Finally, we performed a risk assessment for all the substances detected in the samples, and a concern was highlighted in a few samples for bisphenol A, 3,3’-dimethylbenzidine, mineral oil and PFAS. However, it should be noted that these results represent a worst-case scenario as extraction experiments were performed. It is essential to distinguish between mineral oil extraction tests that involve exhaustive extraction with hexane/ethanol and the other methods that are less exhaustive but more representative of real usage conditions. However, the methodologies need to be harmonised, and European legislation must be developed to address these issues
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