[Studies on primary aromatic amines (PAAs) migration from multi-layer plastic food packaging by HPLC method]. / Badania migracji pierwszorzedowych amin aromatycznych (PAAs) z wielowarstwowych opakowan zywnosci metoda HPLC.

The aim of this study was to identify of primary aromatic amines (PAAs) and to determine their migration from plastic food packaging. The magnitude of the migration of these substances from plastic food packaging consists a base for the evaluation of their compliance with the requirements of EU legislation and hazard for human health taking into account their migration into food. The unprinted and printed multi-layer plastic packaging (laminates), domestic and imported, were examined in these studies. PAAs migration tests from the laminates into food simulant (3% acetic acid) was performed according to the appropriate procedures recommended in the EU for testing migration from food contact articles under standard conditions reflecting the real use of laminates (10 days, 40 degrees C) and under ,, worst case scenario" conditions (2 h, 70 degrees C). PAAs present in migration solutions were concentrated on SPE columns and then seven PAAs (aniline, 1,3-phenylenediamine, 2, 6-toluenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine, 4,4'-oxydianiline, 4,4'-methylenedianiline and 3,3 '-dimethylbenzidyne) were identified and determined by previously validated HPLC-DAD method. Depending on the migration conditions the PAAs content was different. When the "worst case scenario" conditions were applied the migration of 4,4 '-methylenedianiline (4,4 '-MDA) ranged from below detection limit (LOD = 0.51 microg/kg) up to 9.86 microg/kg, and aniline was released in the range from below detection limit (LOD = 0,98 microg/kg) up to 7.04 microg/kg. In two laminate samples of eight examined, the sum of PAAs (aniline and 4,4'-MDA) was 13.32 microg/kg and 14.72 microg/kg showing that the permitted limit (10 microg/kg) was exceeded. In the standard conditions, the migration of aniline and 4,4'-MDA was significantly lower Regarding the carcinogenic potential of PAAs, the laminates causing the amines migration above the permitted limit should not be used as food packaging.

[Role of the EFSA in risk management system regarding food contact materials and articles]. / Rola EFSA w systemie zarzadzania ryzykiem w odniesieniu do materialów i wyrobów przeznaczonych do kontaktu z zywnoscia.

The role of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in the risk management system regarding food contact materials and articles is related with the risk assessment of the substances for the European Commission. General rules for the authorisation of substances used in materials and articles intended to contact with food is established in the Regulation (EC) no 1935/2004. For the evaluation of substances their toxicological properties and magnitude of migration into food simulants is taken into account. Toxicological studies include the mutagenicity tests, oral toxicity studies, carcinogenicity, reproduction and also studies on absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of the substance and other studies when needed. The set of the relevant toxicological data for substance depends on the magnitude of migration. In the case of positive opinion by EFSA the substance appears on the Community list of authorised substances. Sometimes, the earlier evaluated and authorized substances must undergo re-evaluation due to their new toxicological properties or as a result of a presence in the food of their earlier unknown decomposition products. Examples of the selected substances which underwent re-evaluation by EFSA in the light of the current toxicological knowledge and the relevant activities undertaken by the European Commission have been presented.

[Safety of food contact articles in RASFF system]. / Bezpieczenstwo wyrobów przeznaczonych do kontaktu z zywnoscia w systemie RASFF.

Materials and articles intended for contact with food must comply with the requirements set in the Regulation EC No 1935/2007. According to article 3 of this Regulation in normal conditions of use they could not transfer their components into food in the amounts which could endanger human health, cause unacceptable changes in the composition of food or cause a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics. The Regulation EC No 178/2002 related to the food law provides the legal basis for the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). RASFF, besides food and feed, deals with materials and articles intended to contact with food. The structure of RASFF system in the EU is functioning as a network of the official contact points in the Member States. In Poland the General Sanitary Inspectorate as a national contact point coordinates the activity of RASFF system. The products, which do not comply with the specific regulation and on the base of the risk assessment can pose the hazard to human health, are notified to this system. The notifications are classified as: alert notification, information notification and news. The notifications are published as weekly and annual reports. The majority of notifications in 2002-2006 concerned non-compliance of food contact articles with the allowed limits of overall and specific migration of the following substances: primary aromatic amines (PAA), formaldehyde, plasticizers, semicarbazide, isoprophylthioxanthone and metals. The number of notifications systematically grows up from 5 notifications in 2002 to 189 notifications in 2006. Majority of notified articles were made in China. Including of food contact materials into RASFF system allows for rapid withdrawal of non-complying products from the market.

[Overall migartion testing with alternative fatty food simulants]. / Badania migracji globalnej z zastosowaniem alternatywnych plynów modelowych zywnosci zawierajacej tluszcz.

Overall migration from commercial samples of food plastics packaging into 95% ethanol and isooctane--the alternative fatty food simulants--was determined. Testing conditions--time and temperature of the contact of food packaging material with food simulants reflected real or predicted use of given packaging. The analytical methods according to European Standard EN 1186 were used. Test methods by filling the artiecles, total immersion, forming a pouch or using the cell were used for migration as appropriate to allow contact with liquid food simulant only this surface which will come into the contact with food during normal use of the product. The overall migration from the samples of the tested products into both food simulants (95% ethanol and iso-octane) was well below the limit (10 mg/dm2), except of the migration from plasticized PVC films which markedly exceeded above limit, showing that these films must not be used for packaging of food containing fat. Application of food simulants as a alternative to olive oil markedly shortens analytical procedure and reduces workload, both important in routine testing.

[Determination of the overall migration of chemicals from the plastic packaging into the aqueous models of food using the EU methods]. / Oznaczanie migracji globalnej z opakowan zywnosci do wodnych plynów modelowych metodami zalecanymi w Unii Europejskiej.

Overall migration from food plastic packaging to aquatic food simulants (distilled water, 3% acetic acid) was determined according to the EU methods. Testing conditions (time and temperature) reflected normal use of tested food packaging. The overall migration studies using different food simulants (distilled water, 3% acetic acid) shows that the migration rate was very low, far below the allowed limit (10 mg/dm2). The high results of overall migration into 3% acetic acid (average 250.2 mg/dm2), markedly exceeding the allowed limit, was found in the case of multilayer film. It means that the multilayer film tested does not comply with the migration limit and it can not be used as a food packaging for the sour foodstuffs of pH below 4.5. Differences between the magnitude of overall migration into distilled water (0.5-1.1 mg/dm2) and 3% acetic acid are probably due to the presence of easy washable substances into the sour medium. From that reason the application of such food packaging materials must be limited.

[Substance migration and health quality of packaged food]. / Badania migracji i ocena jakosci zdrowotnej opakowan zywnosci.

According to legislation the producer is responsible for the product. Products placed on the market must be safe and the relevant documentation confirming the conformity of the product with the accepted limits of global and specific migration must be available from the producer. The provisions concerning acceptable migration limits (global and specific), stimulants and testing methods are set by the relevant regulations. Distilled water, 3% acetic acid, 10% ethanol and olive oil are used as stimulants of foodstuffs. The choice of an appropriate stimulant and testing conditions depends on the type of food expected to come in contact with packaging. According to provisions testing should be performed in the conditions, which possibly closely reflect actual or expected use of the packaging material, taking into account storage of the product as well as possible thermal processing. Test methods for global migration into stimulants using the cell, pouch, by immerse or by article filling are recommended. The criteria used to choose an appropriate testing method are set in European Standards EN 1186. A product meets the quality criteria as set by the legislation if the global migration from the packaging into stimulants does not exceed value of 10 mg/dm2 or 60 mg/kg and if the specific migration limit (SML), set for given substance is not exceeded.